As Lowlight and his team mates traveled deeper into the jungle, the air became thinner as they rose further and further up a peak they were climbing. Unknown to them, the crag was referred to as "Fang Peak", due to the number of deadly, venomous snakes that inhabited it. They had chosen this path, because surveillance had shown that most of the COBRA patrols avoided these trails. The patrol that they had encountered was the only one that ever traveled anywhere near the peak. If they had known what the COBRAs knew, they probably would've avoided it.

As Beach Head passed under a low hanging branch, an enormous King Cobra slithered from the tree and around his torso. Beach Head froze where he stood. Its enormous jaw was opened as it hissed, and the frightened soldier could see deadly venom dripping from its fangs. Shipwreck noticed that Beach Head was not immediately behind him and turned around.

"Wait just a moment, Lowlight. It seems Beach Head is having a bit of a problem with the local wildlife. I'll handle this," Shipwreck told his friend.

He drew the large knife he had out of his sheath and walked slowly towards Beach Head. His friend was trembling profusely, and Shipwreck tried to keep him calm. He put his index finger up to his lips, and then smiled, glancing at his knife.

Beach Head in the meantime was totally frozen in horror. At this point in time, his major concerns were survival and bladder control. He saw Shipwreck walking towards him, and involuntarily winced when he heard a twig snap in the direction he was coming. The huge snake immediately turned around, and Shipwreck just as quickly beheaded the foul beast. The cobra's huge body went limp, and Beach Head breathed a sigh of relief.

"Are you okay, Beach Head? We need to keep up a good pace if we're going to reach our good vantage point in time for the meeting," Lowlight called back.

"Don't worry about me, Lowlight. Thanks Shipwreck,"

"No problem, Beach Head."

The rest of the hike was relatively uneventful. After a few more hours of hacking through the dense branches, avoiding the other snakes on the trail, and keeping an eye out for COBRA patrols, Lowlight and his friends finally reached a small clearing near the top of the peak. An abandoned Televiper antenna was the only proof of COBRA presence on this part of the island. The rest of the clearing was totally empty. Only a small tree in the center of the clearing provided any cover. After Lowlight took his shot, he and his friends would have to leave in a hurry.

Shipwreck and Beach Head both slumped near a tree trunk at the edge of the clearing. For the next few hours, all they had to do was make sure no COBRAs snuck up behind them. The pair opened up an MRE Beach Head had in his pack, offered some to Lowlight who declined, and then began eating. Lowlight in the mean time was setting up two tripods, one for a digital camera, and a taller one for his sniper rifle. He also had a large microphone pointed in the direction of the temple the viper had told them about with a cord hooked into the camera which would record any conversation the Commander had with Vilnakov. Everything but the rifle and the camera would be abandoned, as the trio would have to make an extremely quick retreat after the assassination.

Shipwreck and Beach Head watched Lowlight work, and shared their meal.

"I think once we finally win this war, we should turn COBRA Island into a tropical resort. We could offer boat tours and lease the waters for fishing. Without all the COBRAs and weapons, this place could be a tropical paradise," Shipwreck told his friend.

"We'd have to do something about the snakes," Beach Head replied.

"Good point."

"I bet the surfing would be great. Rock 'N Roll would have a blast."

"Yeah," Shipwreck replied. "Of course Lowlight would probably be more comfortable in a gloomy place like Destro's Silent Castle."

"Yeah, he'd just have to bring a coffin to sleep in," Beach Head said, bursting into laughter.

"It'd be a great place to watch scary movies," Shipwreck added.

"Dusty would probably want to go to Benzheen," Beach Head said. "Do you want any more of these green beans?"

"They're all yours," Shipwreck replied. "Lowlight, if you could retire at any place the Joes have fought, where would you want to go?"

"I wouldn't want to be in that terrible castle in Carpathia," Lowlight told him. "I'll probably move to New York and work with my sister at the bureau, if the team is ever disbanded again or I get relieved from active duty. I'm a big Mets fan, by the way.

Shipwreck and Beach Head looked at each other and both mouthed the word "weird" to each other in silent exclamation.

After a few more hours, the rally finally showed signs of starting. It was now around 3:30 in the morning, the time at night when the moon was just beginning to set. It reflected on Lowlight's red goggles as he adjusted the microphone and camera towards the few Vipers who were begin to file in. Some COBRA troopers were also stationed with machine guns in case the rally became to rowdy. Lowlight saw Zartan speaking to Firefly as Firefly checked his watch. A few Dreadnoks were drinking grape soda next to a few speakers they had just set up.

The temple itself was shaped like an enormous Greek temple with a large cobra snake's head at the very top. A gigantic navy blue and red COBRA banner was hung behind the podium and a few statues. The statues were of Cobra Commander, Destro, the Baroness, Zartan, the Crimson twins, Major Bludd, and Dr. Mindbender. Humility was not a COBRA strong suit.

As the seats near the temple became more and more full, Lowlight saw COBRA Commander leading a man in his mid fifties up to the podium. Cobra Commander was wearing his hood, and had a large red cape draped over his shoulders. An ornamental, but also functional pistol was in a holster and bound to his right thigh. He looked positively regal. Vilnakov, the man he was leading onto the stage was dressed as a Viper, although he had a red sash with COBRA sigils around his chest and his helmet had no visor.

"They're both here. Come and look boys; the show's about to start," Lowlight called out to his team mates.

They both came up behind him with their binoculars in their hands. Lowlight looked through the scope of his rifle. His surveillance equipment was functioning, and the Joes could hear every word Cobra Commander was saying through Lowlight's large microphone.

"Fellow COBRAs! We bring you a new leader! This man's name is Aleksy Vilnakov, but you will know him as Viper Lord VII. He has battled for many years in Afghanistan and most recently in Chechnya. He has pledged his support for our cause. I am sure he will lead you into battle most triumphantly. Let the Joes tremble before your might! Long live Vilnakov! Long live COBRA!"

The crowd roared in approval. Lowlight needed no more words from the Commander. Just as Vilnakov was about to speak, a bullet entered his forehead and left a nasty exit wound in the back of his skull.

"An assassin! Vipers, report to your squad leaders at once and begin a search of the island. I will not allow an attack on my own island! Zartan, come here," Cobra Commander ordered.

"It's time to go," Lowlight told his friends. He put the camera in his pack, put his rifle in his hands, and led a quick retreat down the trail.