I start this chapter with thanks to Ryoken who helped me out a little with this.

The New Players

Far from Bayville, unknown to both the X-Men and the Brotherhood two other groups were interested in the newly exposed mutant population. More specifically the population in Bayville. The first group was a semi-secret anti-terrorist force codenamed GI Joe. Their leader, General Hawk was giving his team the rundown on the two groups of mutants in Bayville.

"And that is the run down," Hawk finished his presentation. "Our orders are to watch the Bayville mutants and report on their activities."

"As fascinating as all this is,"A bald Marine with a huge tattoo on his bare chest spoke up. "What does this have to do with us? I mean aren't we supposed to fight Cobra? Not mutants."

"I'm getting to that, Gung Ho," Hawk said. "In the first place GI Joe was created to handle all sorts of terrorism. Not just Cobra, although I admit they do tend to take up most of our time. I'd say Magneto qualifies as a terrorist."

"Yeah but why are we watching the X-Men too?" Alpine, the mountaineering specialist asked. "Aren't they supposed to be the good guys?"

"They're just kids," Jinx the ninja added.

"So are the Brotherhood," Falcon reminded her. "Well most of them anyway."

"That's part of the assignment," Hawk said. "We're to watch out for them and try to make sure they don't do as much damage as they have in the past."

"Oh that ought to be fun," Alpine groaned. "And how are we gonna do that?"

"I didn't say it was going to be easy," Hawk said. "Look, there is a real possibility that this could be a breeding ground for genetic warfare. Up until now the Pentagon has thought it wise not to expose mutants to the public for obvious reasons. The greatest is that there are those that will see mutants as weapons of destruction and power instead of people. They will use whatever means necessary to use mutants to their own advantage."

"Like Cobra?" Gung Ho asked.

"Bingo!" Hawk nodded. "We have reason to believe that Cobra is going to try and get these kids for their own purposes. That's why we're setting up an undercover team to infiltrate the high school and keep an eye on things."

"High School?" Bazooka the mustached Joe popped his bubble gum. "I barely graduated high school! I don't wanna take those tests again!"

"He means we're gonna be posing as teachers bubble brain," Alpine groaned.

"Here's the list of who I'm sending in for now," Hawk gave them their briefing papers. "If needed we'll send in extra help."

Operation: Genesis

Codename: Lt. Falcon

Description: Green Beret. In charge of the operation.

Real name: Vincent Falcone

Assignment: Gym Teacher

"Oh goody," Falcon sighed. "I get to bounce basketballs all day!"

Codename: Mainframe

Description: Computer specialist.

Real Name: Blaine Parker

Assignment: Computer Class Instructor.

"Makes sense," Mainframe nodded. "I can even use the computers in class to help us with our intelligence gathering activities. Not to mention keep up on my computer gaming skills."

Codename: Jinx

Description: Ninja/Intelligence specialist.

Real Name:????

Assignment: English Teacher

"You know you are going to have to tell me your name sometime," Falcon said.

"Stow it Falcon," She snapped. "I'll tell you as soon as you grow up!"

"Let me guess, you two are on the outs again," Alpine groaned.

"I've seen rock bands break up fewer times than those two," Gung Ho said.

Codename: Gung Ho

Description: Marine

Real Name: Ettienne LaFitte

Assignment: Home Economics Instructor

"You have got to be kidding me?" Gung Ho shouted.

"Give me a break," Hawk groaned. "It's all I could get!"

"What a stupid job," Alpine roared.

"Shut up!" Gung Ho snapped. "Or else!"

"Or else what?" Alpine asked. "You gonna throw muffins at me?"

Codename: Alpine

Description: Mountain Trouper/Wilderness specialist

Real Name: Al Pine (Believe it or not.)

Assignment: Security guard

"Now who has the stupid job?" Gung Ho chuckled.

"What do you need a mountain expert for?" Alpine asked. "Can't you send someone else?"

"Everyone else has other assignments," Hawk told him. "And you did just get your black belt. Besides, we need you to keep an eye on Bazooka."

Codename: Bazooka

Description: Missile Specialist

Real Name: David Kasnerbogen

Assignment: Education Service Professional: Maintenance

"What am I again?" Bazooka asked.

"You're the janitor bubble gum brain!" Alpine told him. "Hey why do we need a missile specialist on this mission anyway?"

"Let's just say I want to be prepared and leave it at that," Hawk told him.

"I have a question," Alpine asked. "As I understand it, there's at least 2 telepaths involved. How do we keep them from reading out minds and finding out what's going on?"

"We've been working on that," Hawk held up something that looked like a flesh colored Band-Aid. "This device helps shield a person from telepathic probing. Just place it near the temple and it will blend in with a little makeup. However it's never been tested in the field. At least by us. We did 'borrow' this technology from Cobra so it should work pretty well. Unfortunately Cobra has this device as well."

"Does anyone else know about us?" Jinx asked.

"Yes," Falcon said. "We do have a contact inside the school. But I can't say his name right now. It's classified. Only myself and Hawk know."

"Is it the principal?" Alpine asked.

"Of course not!" Hawk shook his head. "The man's already a basket case. He doesn't need to know about this! It'll push him over the edge. Get packed. You all have your assignments as well as additional information. There are even some lesson plans in there for you to work on. The first day of school is in two days. Be ready."

"Oh for crying out loud Hawk it's high school," Falcon smirked. "How hard could it be?"

"You have obviously never been a teacher before," Hawk smirked back and laughed.

************************************************************************

Further away on a remote island another meeting was being held. "We have a chance for unlimited power!" Cobra Commander finished briefing his officers. "We must not allow this chance to get away!"

"I agree," The Baroness, a dark haired woman with glasses and a European accent nodded. "Such individuals can give Cobra the edge in our cause."

"That is why I have arranged for some of you to go undercover at Bayville High," Cobra Commander said. "The Baroness and I have put together a team. Here are your assignments."

Operation: Get Those Mutants Anyway Possible!

Codename: The Baroness

Description: Military Intelligence/ Team Leader

Real Name: I'm not going to tell you. If I did I'd have to shoot you.

Alias: Ms. Baron

Assignment: History Teacher

"Let's get rid of the 'Real Name' category!" Baroness snapped. "None of us uses our real names anyway!"

"Oh all right," Cobra Commander sighed.

Codename: Zartan

Alias: Mr. Tanzar

Description: Master of Disguise/Espionage Agent/Ninja/Mercenary

Assignment: Chemistry Teacher.

"You expect me to work under her?" Zartan snapped. It was a well-known fact that The Baroness and Zartan hated each other. The Baroness considered Zartan and his motley bunch a group of uncontrollable mercenary scum with no loyalty to the cause. Zartan considered her a self absorbed, stuck up slut who only got her position in Cobra by sleeping with Destro, the number two man in Cobra's organization. Both were pretty accurate about their assumptions of each other.

"I'm not that crazy about this myself," Baroness snapped. "But there are other missions that Cobra must attend to. We can't afford to put all our eggs in one basket. The mutants are important, but there are other priorities. To put it simply, we don't have enough manpower not to use you at the moment."

"Yes take a note," Cobra Commander spoke to his secretary. "Discuss new recruitment strategies at next monthly meeting."

Codename: Zarana

Alias: Ms. Rafael

Description: Expert Espionage agent/Martial Arts Expert/Mercenary

Assignment: Gym Teacher

"Wait," Zarana said. "Isn't one of the Joes gonna be a gym teacher?"

"Yes," Cobra Commander told her. "Bayville needs both a male and female gym instructor. You're the female one."

"How did you find out about the Joe's strategy may I ask?" Zartan asked.

"Oh let's just say a little bug told me," Cobra Commander grinned underneath his hood.

Codename: Zandar

Alias: Mr. Rafael

Description: Espionage Agent/Weapons Expert/Marital Arts Expert/Weapons Expert

Assignment: Art Teacher

"The old brother-sister act," Zandar sighed. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Oh quit whining," Zartan snapped at his younger brother. "She is your twin after all. And you are going to be paid so don't complain!"

"Oh well," Zandar sighed. "How bad could art class be?"

Codename: Monkeywrench

Alias: Mr. Wrench

Description: Explosives Expert/Biker/Mercenary

Assignment: Education Service Professional

"What does that mean?" Monkeywrench asked.

"Um," Cobra Commander hesitated. "You'll find out when you get there. Let's just say that being the only Dreadnok who knows how to read directions has gotten you into a very good position where you can watch the students and get to know them individually. Plus you get out early everyday from school."

"Oh that doesn't sound so bad," He shrugged.

"To ensure that one of the telepaths does not read your mind Dr. Mindbender has come up with these telepathic blocking devices," Cobra Commander showed them the device. "The Baroness will show you how they work later."

"I don't see the necessity. There's not that much of the Dreadnoks' minds to read in the first place," The Baroness sniggered into Destro's ear.

"Hey!" Zarana bristled. "You take that back!"

"Make me!" Baroness hissed.

"Oh that will be a pleasure!" Zarana shouted as she threw the first punch. Soon the women were brawling on the table.

"Catfight! Catfight!" Monkeywrench shouted.

"Ten bucks on Zarana!" Zartan shouted.

"The Baroness is worth at least a hundred!" Destro shouted.

"Oh so that's how much you pay her every night," Zartan sneered. For this Destro gave him a punch in the jaw and they started brawling. The remaining Dreadnoks cheered and started betting amongst themselves.

"SHUT UP!" Cobra Commander took his gun and fired it at the ceiling. Everyone stopped. "As entertaining as it is to watch you buffoons beat the stuffing out of each other, we have work to do! Now sit down and shut up!" They did so. "Now where were we?"

"What do the rest of us Dreadnoks do?" Torch asked.

"I'm afraid the rest of you will be stationed on the outskirts of town," Baroness said. "You will be needed in the second stage of the operation when we actually make a move to capture some of the mutants."

"Yeah not all of you are as intellectually gifted as I am," Monkeywrench snickered.

"If you're intellectually gifted, then I'm Miss Bloody America!" Ripper snapped.

"Oh yeah!" Monkeywrench shouted.

"Yeah!" Ripper snapped. Soon they were brawling.

This time however Cobra Commander ignored them. "Oh yes, Baroness you were telling me you had a possible informant."

"Let's just say I have a person at the school who's only too happy to work against mutants," Baroness laughed.

"Interesting," Zartan smiled. "I've also placed an informant at Bayville High as well."

"What?" The Baroness whirled on him. "Who?"

"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours," Zartan smirked.

"So you're telling me we're gonna have two informants at the school?" Zarana smiled. "Not bad. One of them ain't this Principal Kelly is it?"

"Are you insane?" Baroness spat out laughing. "The man is an utter moron! I once said that Hector Ramerez the TV reporter was the stupidest male I have ever met. Well I think Principal Kelly can give him a good run for the title!"

"Speaking of stupid," Cobra Commander turned his attention to the Dreadnok brawl. "Zartan do you think you should interrupt this?"

"OWWW!" Monkeywrench screamed. "Stop pulling my hair! Take this!"

"YEOWW!" Ripper screamed. "You stepped on my bloody foot! Take that!"

"Fiver on Ripper," Torch said.

"You're on," Buzzer said.

"No," Zartan said. "Let the boys have a little fun to occupy their tiny little minds while we plan the more important strategies."

"Oh all right," Cobra Commander said. "Oh and put me down for ten bucks on Ripper please."

So what will happen on the first day of school for GI Joe and Cobra? Who is the Joes' informant? Who are Cobra's two informants? What is Monkeywrench's job going to be? Will Kelly ever figure out that his school is a hot bed for conspiracies? Stay tuned!