Disclaimer: I still do not own any GI Joe or Action Force characters,
including any of the Red Shadows from the Battle Action Force comic line.
Part 7: Steeler
"Well, Firefly, what did you find?" Cobra Commander's voice sounded dulled, depressed. The weight of the Red Shadow's assault was weighing heavily on him, or maybe it had to do with the doubt of not knowing if Billy was dead or alive. Maybe all the humanity had not yet been driven out of him.
"They went after him in force, Commander, but Storm Shadow got there first. They apparently escaped and have gone to ground."
"Find them. They must not be allowed to harm Billy, even if you have to kill him yourself."
"My fee." Firefly began to ask, but thought better of it when he saw the sudden glare in the Commander's eyes. Just this once, he would accept payment later.
****
"Settle down everyone," Hawk strode across the front of the briefing room, as the old faces he knew well took their seats, and the newer faces he did not know so well took seats behind the older ones. The newer recruits were too awed by his Tomahawk reputation to get too close.
Hawk continued, "This briefing is to bring everyone up to speed on the new threat that is facing us. I wish to remind everyone that all of the information that is going to be discussed here is classified top secret. and some of it will come from classified British files. You are not allowed to ask how we came by it, not that it's hard to guess. But, before we get to that, I want an update on the search for Snake Eyes and Billy. Jinx and Spirit?"
Jinx and Spirit each cast an uneasy look at each other in a silent contest to decide who would stand to tell the results. Spirit lost, and found himself standing. "The enemy laid waste to the entire apartment building, and killed a dozen civilians in the process. By all indications, Snake Eyes and Billy escaped with the aid of Storm Shadow-"
"Storm Shadow?" Hawk interrupted.
"He killed a bunch of the enemy, but we don't know why he was there yet." Jinx answered without bothering to stand. "He was friends with Billy once."
Spirit continued. "We have no evidence that Snake Eyes or Billy have been captured. I suspect they have gone into hiding, possibly with Storm Shadow. It is also not known why they have not made their way to a safe house."
"Snake Eyes must have his reasons." Hawk replied, as Spirit sat back down. "Now on to other business. The name of our new enemy is the Red Shadows, so far they have been focusing their terror efforts on Cobra, but its just a matter of time before they turn their sights on us, and in the mean time, a lot of civilians are being caught in the middle. This is getting bloody, and I think its just starting.
"In the past few months there have been several attacks by these Red Shadows. The Dreadnok compound was raided, so were several other previously unknown Cobra facilities, including a BAT research lab. Springfield and several other known, and a few previously unknown Cobra bases have been burnt to the ground. There was a school shooting yesterday that is being reported as a random tragedy was actually a hit on the families of known Crimson Guardsmen. Several other similar events have been occurring all over the world. Only the Red Shadow attack on Extensive Enterprises has not had a proven connection to Cobra.
"Neither Duke nor myself has any experience with the Red Shadows. They were a bit before our time, so I have recalled one of the few Joes who has fought them before. Welcome back, Steeler."
Hearing his cue, Steeler nervously entered and stood at the front of the room., nodding as most of the older Joes whom he had not seen in years, hooted and hollered at his reappearance, causing him to turn red.
Although smiling, Duke calmed things back down. "Ok, Joes, back to business. Steeler, if you would."
"Ok," Steeler said, mostly to prepare himself than anything else. "Back before I first joined JI Joe, I worked for an early version of the European Action Force organization that GI Joe was later patterned after. At that time the AF was divided up into four different groupings. Q force was for water operations, there was a Space force that operated from the AF satellite, SAS force were the heavy hitters, but I was in with the infantry in Z force. Brigadier Flagg merged the different groupings of AF into a single fighting unit shortly after we wiped the Red Shadows out and a new group calling itself Cobra started to make trouble. When that happened most of the original SAS, Z, Q and Space force members were transferred to non-combatant posts. Since Cobra never had as large a force in space as the Red Shadows, the Space force was mostly closed down completely. Since I didn't have as much to do, I eagerly signed on with GI Joe when the USA started up their program against Cobra.
"The Red Shadows were led by a man known only as Baron Ironblood. We don't know what he looked like because he always wore an iron mask that looked like a stovepipe on his head. The Baron specialized in a form of brainwashing that turned almost all of his men into fanatically loyal puppets. His right hand man was the Black Major, he is ex-SAS and one of the first AF men recruited before he turned against us and joined the Shadows. He tried to keep the Shadows going after the disappearance of the Baron, but we figured he eventually gave up and retired someplace. Other command staff included Red Laser who specialized in advanced technology, Red Wolf who commanded their fighter squadrons, Red Jackal who was their tank commander and looked like Destro only with a lesser defined face. Rumor has it that Red Jackal was also an AF man turned traitor by the Baron's brainwashing.
"Their equipment included Hyenas which were kin to the original Hiss tanks, they also had a wheeled transport called the Shadow Track, but their worse weapon was the RoboSkull, a sort of VTOL jet/space fighter. It could go anywhere really, and looked like a TIE fighter with a skull for the center. They also had a large fleet of transport and warships, and what seemed like an endless supply of suicidal troops that were not afraid to charge across a minefield or parachute with out a chute while wearing high explosives. Once they deployed an army of lizard creatures, I never faced them, but was briefed on them after they and a few SAS squads practically wiped each other out.
"Except for the Baron, who wore white, and the Black Major, who wore black, everyone and everything in the Red Shadows was a bright red color. Something to do with symbolizing a tide of Blood sweeping across the land. It may not be very camouflaging but the effect it has on morale can be staggering. Also, their troops were not only suicidal, they were also exceptionally skilled soldiers.
"Some people have theorized that there was some link between the Shadows and Cobra, but as far as I know it was never proven."
Hawk stood up and again took to floor. "Thank you, Steeler. Now, Joes with the aid of some targeting dummies based on BAT technology, and with a scenario inspired by Steeler's experiences, we have prepared a live fire exercise for you topside."
The Joes filled out of the room, with a few hello, how have you been's passed to Steeler as they passed. Once the room was mostly empty, Steeler had to ask. "Sir, I appreciate the excuse for a reunion, but the Red Shadows are long gone, why the briefing and exercises?"
"Reports of their destruction were greatly exaggerated," Hawk replied. "Come on, lets see how they do in your scenario."
****
"Not doing very well, are they?"
"Its only their first run, Steeler," Hawk replied. "That's why we are doing this. Better they fail here while the enemy is firing smoke and paint balls than against the real thing."
Steeler winced as the monitors of the war game showed another tank "taken out" when a paratrooper wearing smoke bombs, cut his chute loose and fell on it.
On another screen Heavy Duty was firing randomly into a squad of mock Red Shadows. "They just keep coming!" he shouted. A much calmer Roadblock and Gung Ho rushed hurried over to his side and started pumping more carefully directed ammo at the oncoming horde. Their radiated calm helped to calm Heavy Duty enough for him to direct his own fire more accurately to slow the oncoming tide Shadows, but even then they were forced to begin a slow retreat backwards.
"My Joes are sure having a hard time adjusting to the Shadows different tatics," Hawk said.
"We always did have a higher mortality rate in those days," Steeler replied. "I wish Snake Eyes was here, it would be good to see how he would deal with this. Ouch, Stalker is down."
Sure enough, one of the monitors showed Stalker cursing and staring down at the red paintball stain decorating his chest.
"Half of them are down now." Hawk pressed the stop button on the simulation and all the Red clad automatons stopped moving. "Ok Joes, hit the showers and change. In two hours we are going to do this again, and next time, your opponents fire is going to be a bit more accurate."
On each of the monitors the Joes grumbled and helped up their "dead" comrades and headed back to the barracks where they would shower, rest and discuss what had gone wrong. Everyone knew the next test run would be a completely different story.
"Hawk, mind if I go take a look at one of the new tanks?"
"Go ahead Steeler, it will take us a while to reset things, and I know you have been dying to climb back into a tank since you got here."
Hawk barely heard Steeler's thanks, as the man was already out the door before he thought to utter it.
****
Billy was not having a good time. He, and his two bodyguards had been on the run the entire time since his apartment had been destroyed. It seemed that no matter where they went or what they did, the enemy knew where they were. It was uncanny how the enemy always seemed to know, regardless of the ninja tricks they used to elude them. Billy was beginning to think that maybe they were being tracked by satellite, but that didn't seem to practical either somehow.
And the entire time Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow refused to speak to each other, or rather communicate, since Snake Eyes was incapable of speech. Fatigue was beginning to show on all three of them, and Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow were too untrusting of each other to trade off watches in order for the other to sleep. Billy hoped that something would happen soon, they had been forced to hide in the sewers as part of their latest plan to escape detection.
In the back of a truck driving along the street above, Jackal tuned from his own monitors to the Mutton. "Well," he asked, "Can you still detect them?" The Mutton wore what looked like eithe a type of space suit or a deep sea diving suit with various antennas attached to the helmet.
"Yes," The Mutton answered in a gargled voice. "Under this street."
Jackal grabbed the radio, "Stop the truck."
As soon as the truck stopped, Jackal leapt out followed by several Red Shadows. The Mutton followed a moment later, walking slowly.
"Mutton, stand directly over them."
Red Shadows ran to block traffic as the Mutton walked into the middle of the street. None of the drivers argued with the muzzle of a machine gun.
The Mutton stopped, then started walking down the street to remain above the three men.
At last, Jackal thought. "Take your positions."
The remaining Red Shadows each ran to a man hole or storm drain.
"Stun Grenades."
Each of the Red Shadows tossed a grenade down into the sewers, which was almost immediately followed by an explosion.
"They are unconscious." The Mutton intoned.
"Get the boy, take no chances with the others."
The Shadows at the manholes, again opened them and climbed down. Then came the expected sound of precautionary gunfire. A moment later, the Red Shadows climbed back out of the sewer, dragging Billy's body with them.
Jackal smiled. "Load the boy on the truck, and take care of the witnesses."
The Shadows who were blocking traffic opened fire on the drivers they had been intimidating, then they moved on to their passengers, and started firing at the cars in the second row and beyond. The Shadows standing by the storm drains turned their guns on the spectators on the sidewalks and store windows before they too fired. "Blood For The Baron!"
The street ran red with blood.
****
"Is something wrong Steeler?" Rock and Roll asked.
"Its nothing. Just a strange feeling."
"You miss being in the saddle?"
"That's not it exactly," Steeler replied. "Its just I'm remembering the old days. I cant help missing Breaker, he should have been giving that lecture not me, but he is gone, and I cant shake the feeling that something big is going to happen. The guys in SAS got to where they developed a second sense during Operation Bloodhound where they could feel it if the Baron was near by. I'm having something like that."
Rock and Roll laughed, "We all get that way from time to time about the old days, and old friends. But its not like the shadows are going to raid our training exercise, so relax."
Steeler couldn't help smiling. "Well they have done that sort of thing in the past, that's why you guys are all equipped with live ammo for these war games."
"What?"
****
Hawk slammed his fist down so hard on the table that the TV jumped.
"Take it easy, we didn't know." Duke tried to calm his superior down.
"How could we not have known? They did this," he jestured to the CNN news coverage of a downtown massacre on the screen, "in broad daylight, in the middle of the fraging city, and two of our own were in the middle of it."
"We don't know what happened yet. Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow are being flown to the hospital, and we will put high security on Storm Shadow." Not that any amount of security would prevent the man from leaving when he was well enough. "Billy may have gotten away, and besides."
"Besides, we couldn't have gotten there in time to save anyone anyway," Hawk finished for Duke. "That doesn't make it any easier to know that there was no choice, no way I could have prevented this. But I will damn sure make sure it doesn't happen again."
****
Groggily Billy came back to his senses. He was tied securely and could not move an inch or finger. He saw a gray ceiling, but not the gray of the sewers. "Where am I?"
The red clad guards did not answer him.
Finally he heard footsteps approaching him. Boots on concrete. Not far now.
He was so incredibly uncomfortable.
Then he saw a metal mask and two angry eyes.
Those eyes.
The man with the angry eyes put the barrel of a pistol to Billy's forehead.
The man said, "So, you are my son."
That voice was so unmistakable, as were those angry eyes.
Billy asked. "D-D-Dad??"
Part 7: Steeler
"Well, Firefly, what did you find?" Cobra Commander's voice sounded dulled, depressed. The weight of the Red Shadow's assault was weighing heavily on him, or maybe it had to do with the doubt of not knowing if Billy was dead or alive. Maybe all the humanity had not yet been driven out of him.
"They went after him in force, Commander, but Storm Shadow got there first. They apparently escaped and have gone to ground."
"Find them. They must not be allowed to harm Billy, even if you have to kill him yourself."
"My fee." Firefly began to ask, but thought better of it when he saw the sudden glare in the Commander's eyes. Just this once, he would accept payment later.
****
"Settle down everyone," Hawk strode across the front of the briefing room, as the old faces he knew well took their seats, and the newer faces he did not know so well took seats behind the older ones. The newer recruits were too awed by his Tomahawk reputation to get too close.
Hawk continued, "This briefing is to bring everyone up to speed on the new threat that is facing us. I wish to remind everyone that all of the information that is going to be discussed here is classified top secret. and some of it will come from classified British files. You are not allowed to ask how we came by it, not that it's hard to guess. But, before we get to that, I want an update on the search for Snake Eyes and Billy. Jinx and Spirit?"
Jinx and Spirit each cast an uneasy look at each other in a silent contest to decide who would stand to tell the results. Spirit lost, and found himself standing. "The enemy laid waste to the entire apartment building, and killed a dozen civilians in the process. By all indications, Snake Eyes and Billy escaped with the aid of Storm Shadow-"
"Storm Shadow?" Hawk interrupted.
"He killed a bunch of the enemy, but we don't know why he was there yet." Jinx answered without bothering to stand. "He was friends with Billy once."
Spirit continued. "We have no evidence that Snake Eyes or Billy have been captured. I suspect they have gone into hiding, possibly with Storm Shadow. It is also not known why they have not made their way to a safe house."
"Snake Eyes must have his reasons." Hawk replied, as Spirit sat back down. "Now on to other business. The name of our new enemy is the Red Shadows, so far they have been focusing their terror efforts on Cobra, but its just a matter of time before they turn their sights on us, and in the mean time, a lot of civilians are being caught in the middle. This is getting bloody, and I think its just starting.
"In the past few months there have been several attacks by these Red Shadows. The Dreadnok compound was raided, so were several other previously unknown Cobra facilities, including a BAT research lab. Springfield and several other known, and a few previously unknown Cobra bases have been burnt to the ground. There was a school shooting yesterday that is being reported as a random tragedy was actually a hit on the families of known Crimson Guardsmen. Several other similar events have been occurring all over the world. Only the Red Shadow attack on Extensive Enterprises has not had a proven connection to Cobra.
"Neither Duke nor myself has any experience with the Red Shadows. They were a bit before our time, so I have recalled one of the few Joes who has fought them before. Welcome back, Steeler."
Hearing his cue, Steeler nervously entered and stood at the front of the room., nodding as most of the older Joes whom he had not seen in years, hooted and hollered at his reappearance, causing him to turn red.
Although smiling, Duke calmed things back down. "Ok, Joes, back to business. Steeler, if you would."
"Ok," Steeler said, mostly to prepare himself than anything else. "Back before I first joined JI Joe, I worked for an early version of the European Action Force organization that GI Joe was later patterned after. At that time the AF was divided up into four different groupings. Q force was for water operations, there was a Space force that operated from the AF satellite, SAS force were the heavy hitters, but I was in with the infantry in Z force. Brigadier Flagg merged the different groupings of AF into a single fighting unit shortly after we wiped the Red Shadows out and a new group calling itself Cobra started to make trouble. When that happened most of the original SAS, Z, Q and Space force members were transferred to non-combatant posts. Since Cobra never had as large a force in space as the Red Shadows, the Space force was mostly closed down completely. Since I didn't have as much to do, I eagerly signed on with GI Joe when the USA started up their program against Cobra.
"The Red Shadows were led by a man known only as Baron Ironblood. We don't know what he looked like because he always wore an iron mask that looked like a stovepipe on his head. The Baron specialized in a form of brainwashing that turned almost all of his men into fanatically loyal puppets. His right hand man was the Black Major, he is ex-SAS and one of the first AF men recruited before he turned against us and joined the Shadows. He tried to keep the Shadows going after the disappearance of the Baron, but we figured he eventually gave up and retired someplace. Other command staff included Red Laser who specialized in advanced technology, Red Wolf who commanded their fighter squadrons, Red Jackal who was their tank commander and looked like Destro only with a lesser defined face. Rumor has it that Red Jackal was also an AF man turned traitor by the Baron's brainwashing.
"Their equipment included Hyenas which were kin to the original Hiss tanks, they also had a wheeled transport called the Shadow Track, but their worse weapon was the RoboSkull, a sort of VTOL jet/space fighter. It could go anywhere really, and looked like a TIE fighter with a skull for the center. They also had a large fleet of transport and warships, and what seemed like an endless supply of suicidal troops that were not afraid to charge across a minefield or parachute with out a chute while wearing high explosives. Once they deployed an army of lizard creatures, I never faced them, but was briefed on them after they and a few SAS squads practically wiped each other out.
"Except for the Baron, who wore white, and the Black Major, who wore black, everyone and everything in the Red Shadows was a bright red color. Something to do with symbolizing a tide of Blood sweeping across the land. It may not be very camouflaging but the effect it has on morale can be staggering. Also, their troops were not only suicidal, they were also exceptionally skilled soldiers.
"Some people have theorized that there was some link between the Shadows and Cobra, but as far as I know it was never proven."
Hawk stood up and again took to floor. "Thank you, Steeler. Now, Joes with the aid of some targeting dummies based on BAT technology, and with a scenario inspired by Steeler's experiences, we have prepared a live fire exercise for you topside."
The Joes filled out of the room, with a few hello, how have you been's passed to Steeler as they passed. Once the room was mostly empty, Steeler had to ask. "Sir, I appreciate the excuse for a reunion, but the Red Shadows are long gone, why the briefing and exercises?"
"Reports of their destruction were greatly exaggerated," Hawk replied. "Come on, lets see how they do in your scenario."
****
"Not doing very well, are they?"
"Its only their first run, Steeler," Hawk replied. "That's why we are doing this. Better they fail here while the enemy is firing smoke and paint balls than against the real thing."
Steeler winced as the monitors of the war game showed another tank "taken out" when a paratrooper wearing smoke bombs, cut his chute loose and fell on it.
On another screen Heavy Duty was firing randomly into a squad of mock Red Shadows. "They just keep coming!" he shouted. A much calmer Roadblock and Gung Ho rushed hurried over to his side and started pumping more carefully directed ammo at the oncoming horde. Their radiated calm helped to calm Heavy Duty enough for him to direct his own fire more accurately to slow the oncoming tide Shadows, but even then they were forced to begin a slow retreat backwards.
"My Joes are sure having a hard time adjusting to the Shadows different tatics," Hawk said.
"We always did have a higher mortality rate in those days," Steeler replied. "I wish Snake Eyes was here, it would be good to see how he would deal with this. Ouch, Stalker is down."
Sure enough, one of the monitors showed Stalker cursing and staring down at the red paintball stain decorating his chest.
"Half of them are down now." Hawk pressed the stop button on the simulation and all the Red clad automatons stopped moving. "Ok Joes, hit the showers and change. In two hours we are going to do this again, and next time, your opponents fire is going to be a bit more accurate."
On each of the monitors the Joes grumbled and helped up their "dead" comrades and headed back to the barracks where they would shower, rest and discuss what had gone wrong. Everyone knew the next test run would be a completely different story.
"Hawk, mind if I go take a look at one of the new tanks?"
"Go ahead Steeler, it will take us a while to reset things, and I know you have been dying to climb back into a tank since you got here."
Hawk barely heard Steeler's thanks, as the man was already out the door before he thought to utter it.
****
Billy was not having a good time. He, and his two bodyguards had been on the run the entire time since his apartment had been destroyed. It seemed that no matter where they went or what they did, the enemy knew where they were. It was uncanny how the enemy always seemed to know, regardless of the ninja tricks they used to elude them. Billy was beginning to think that maybe they were being tracked by satellite, but that didn't seem to practical either somehow.
And the entire time Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow refused to speak to each other, or rather communicate, since Snake Eyes was incapable of speech. Fatigue was beginning to show on all three of them, and Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow were too untrusting of each other to trade off watches in order for the other to sleep. Billy hoped that something would happen soon, they had been forced to hide in the sewers as part of their latest plan to escape detection.
In the back of a truck driving along the street above, Jackal tuned from his own monitors to the Mutton. "Well," he asked, "Can you still detect them?" The Mutton wore what looked like eithe a type of space suit or a deep sea diving suit with various antennas attached to the helmet.
"Yes," The Mutton answered in a gargled voice. "Under this street."
Jackal grabbed the radio, "Stop the truck."
As soon as the truck stopped, Jackal leapt out followed by several Red Shadows. The Mutton followed a moment later, walking slowly.
"Mutton, stand directly over them."
Red Shadows ran to block traffic as the Mutton walked into the middle of the street. None of the drivers argued with the muzzle of a machine gun.
The Mutton stopped, then started walking down the street to remain above the three men.
At last, Jackal thought. "Take your positions."
The remaining Red Shadows each ran to a man hole or storm drain.
"Stun Grenades."
Each of the Red Shadows tossed a grenade down into the sewers, which was almost immediately followed by an explosion.
"They are unconscious." The Mutton intoned.
"Get the boy, take no chances with the others."
The Shadows at the manholes, again opened them and climbed down. Then came the expected sound of precautionary gunfire. A moment later, the Red Shadows climbed back out of the sewer, dragging Billy's body with them.
Jackal smiled. "Load the boy on the truck, and take care of the witnesses."
The Shadows who were blocking traffic opened fire on the drivers they had been intimidating, then they moved on to their passengers, and started firing at the cars in the second row and beyond. The Shadows standing by the storm drains turned their guns on the spectators on the sidewalks and store windows before they too fired. "Blood For The Baron!"
The street ran red with blood.
****
"Is something wrong Steeler?" Rock and Roll asked.
"Its nothing. Just a strange feeling."
"You miss being in the saddle?"
"That's not it exactly," Steeler replied. "Its just I'm remembering the old days. I cant help missing Breaker, he should have been giving that lecture not me, but he is gone, and I cant shake the feeling that something big is going to happen. The guys in SAS got to where they developed a second sense during Operation Bloodhound where they could feel it if the Baron was near by. I'm having something like that."
Rock and Roll laughed, "We all get that way from time to time about the old days, and old friends. But its not like the shadows are going to raid our training exercise, so relax."
Steeler couldn't help smiling. "Well they have done that sort of thing in the past, that's why you guys are all equipped with live ammo for these war games."
"What?"
****
Hawk slammed his fist down so hard on the table that the TV jumped.
"Take it easy, we didn't know." Duke tried to calm his superior down.
"How could we not have known? They did this," he jestured to the CNN news coverage of a downtown massacre on the screen, "in broad daylight, in the middle of the fraging city, and two of our own were in the middle of it."
"We don't know what happened yet. Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow are being flown to the hospital, and we will put high security on Storm Shadow." Not that any amount of security would prevent the man from leaving when he was well enough. "Billy may have gotten away, and besides."
"Besides, we couldn't have gotten there in time to save anyone anyway," Hawk finished for Duke. "That doesn't make it any easier to know that there was no choice, no way I could have prevented this. But I will damn sure make sure it doesn't happen again."
****
Groggily Billy came back to his senses. He was tied securely and could not move an inch or finger. He saw a gray ceiling, but not the gray of the sewers. "Where am I?"
The red clad guards did not answer him.
Finally he heard footsteps approaching him. Boots on concrete. Not far now.
He was so incredibly uncomfortable.
Then he saw a metal mask and two angry eyes.
Those eyes.
The man with the angry eyes put the barrel of a pistol to Billy's forehead.
The man said, "So, you are my son."
That voice was so unmistakable, as were those angry eyes.
Billy asked. "D-D-Dad??"