Frontline News.
Disclaimer: Skymaster23 has no connection to The Blob films.
Outside the stockade, Flash is speaking with Col. Sharp. "Are you certain that it's not a malfunction?"
With a miffed expression, Flash replies. "Sir, i built this device myself... so that's not possible."
"I prefer your being wrong to the idea that there may be another Joe K.I.A." The Colonel says while waving over Rock & Roll, Grunt, Roadblock, and Blowtorch as they arrive on two Armadillos.
"De Colwanl sent us 'ere to watch yooehr back, Flash."The latter tells Flash.
"Hmm, probably better for you to keep watch at the exit, Roadblock; incase any of "us" shows up alone." He suggests.
"Good point. Clear the premises, if you don't want to be casualties." Roadblock says to the M.P.s.
Once the non-essentials are out, the Joes follow Flash over to the cell where what may or may not be Deep Six was. "So if Deep's not Deep, what is he?" Rock 'n Roll asked out loud.
"According to this reading, and to what Airtight said, Instead of the previous synthoids we encountered, this one is organic... a microbial colony with Deep Six's DNA mixed in, as well as a series of miniature electronics throughout it's "body" that give off impulses for directional control... and from Shipwreck's report; a self destruct command." Flash describes, sighing at the end.
"You mean that part about them melting right in front of him. That'd explain his pissing himself when he saw Scarlett after getting back. Good thing he's out of state right now." Grunt mumbles in response. "Let's just kill the... whatever, and get out of here."
"Kill might not be the right term; just because it's organic doesn't mean it's alive, Grunt."/"Shut up, you're making the others nervous."/"Yeah, the others; this the part where we all hide in the diner, Steve-Ow!" Flash, Grunt, and Rock & Roll tell each other before they reach the cell. The latter pair watch as Flash glances between the occupant and the scanner's screen, then over to them before getting his walkie-talkie. "There's no mistaking it, sir; Deep Six is a-huh... Oh shit!" He said before jumping out of the way of a violet appendage slamming into the wall to the left.
"Flash, did he... i mean, it just-"/"Yes it did!" Flash shouts to Rock & Roll, and points at "Deep Six" morphs to get through the bars. "Shoot it before it reforms!"
"And keep yooehr 'eads down incase it tries to"Ace" us!" Blowtorch adds, recalling the "germ warfare" incident. After Rock & Roll and Grunt put a few dozen M249 and Ithaca 37 rounds into it with little effect; Flash looks at him and gives him a handsignal. "Back to 'ell with ya, ye shapeless devil!" He yells while giving a burst from his flamethrower for 6 seconds, then another 4 to be on the safe side.
"That explains how Breaker got framed, doesn't it." Roadblock said once he walked in and saw the remains that Grunt was poking with his shotgun.
After passing the scanner over it, Flash nodded. "Flash here, imposter has been neutralized. We're heading back."
4 hours later, the Joes in the commissary are getting their mail.
"Got some magazines for Alpine." One of the moes says.
"He left for Keystone to pick up Bazook. I'll hold on to it for him." Dusty replied.
"He's still going on about that?; i know Asian girls are hotties, but still..." Mainframe asks, referring Col. Sharp's declining the offer to have Wirecutter replace Ripcord before Cover-Girl dumps a drink over him.
"I'll cool that off for you." She says before stomping off.
In the Monitor room, Breaker is watching a rally for next year's elections through a security camera when he notices something on another screen. When he magnifies the image, he sees an Indian cargo ship capsized while a Chinese naval ship is taking on survivors, then he pushes his chair over to the phone.
In the Intel room, Lady-Jaye is talking about a letter from her classmate Ron, who mentioned a rumor about a new fighter being designed when the phone rang. "Breaker to Intel team, you're gonna want to see this." She's informed.
6 minutes after sending the scene to them, Scarlett gives a grim response. "From what i can make out, the destroyer's radioman is saying the cargo ship's survivors were attacked by what sounds like a Cobra Trawler; and i don't think it was alone. I'd tell the Colonel that they're on the way, big time."
Breaker's about to reply when Dial-Tone shake his shoulder, and shows him four Trawlers and an equally massive disk-shaped craft in a skirmish with some F/A-18's. "...You don't say."
A few minutes later, all of them except for Breaker are in the briefing room; Col. Sharp takes the podium while Duke lowers a large projector screen. "Joes, i have been informed that a Cobra battlegroup has landed at the gulf of California two hours ago. Their clearly out for blood after losing Springfield, since they made it here despite the efforts of over a dozen ships and aircraft from us, the Soviets, and even the Chinese." He says as a recording of Cobra fighters firing on two American destroyers, and a Soviet cruiser, plays behind him.
The Joes comment to each other on this before Dusty stands up. "Any idea what crazy plan they've got this time, sir?" He asks.
"Maybe they'll carpet bomb us with shaving cream."/"Turn a skyscraper into a sonic destructo-matic?"/"Or hide a WMD* in an abandoned Soviet base to super-heat the ionosphere and blow up London?" Clutch, Airtight, and Quick-Kick suggest, with everyone staring at the latter. "...What?"
"From what some Mexican police stations mentioned, it seems this will be more conventional this time." The Colonel said, a small grin on his face despite the situation.
At this point, Breaker makes an announcement over the intercom. "Sir, Keystone's air traffic control just reported a mass of unidentified blips."
"How many?" Col. Sharp asked after getting him on the phone.
"They can't tell; their radar screens are all green."
Chapter thirty-one.
*Was this a term before 2001?
