Frontline News.

Disclaimer: Skymaster23 has no connection to any Disney productions.

A belated RIP to Chuck McCann.


In the weeks after the Joe's "raid" on one of the observation posts, Destro and Dr. Mindbender are introducing a new device. Nobody is that impressed, however. "Out of the quessstion; what makess you think that piece of crap will work any better then my Pyramid of Darkness did?!" Cobra Commander asks him as he pounds his desk.

"For one thing, Cobra Commander, the Pulse Modulator is merely intended for medium-range ballistic shielding rather than world-wide denial of energy." Destro explains.

"Ze attack at Isle de Coiba has led us to konsider ze best vay to use it." Dr. Mindbender added, and hands over a newspaper with the headline: Full steam ahead for U.S.S. Montana's decommissioning.


"No way in hell am i watchin' her get shredded, you new-fashioned vulture!" Admiral Ledger says to Overton while the two are in the Flagg's hangerbay watching one of the new Conquest's be worked on.

"The C.O. of one of our most modern carriers has no right to talk to me like that; the Montana's a beat-up old relic, Warren." Overton replies.

"So are we; but you don't see us getting turned to goddamned paper clips!" Ledger told him while shaking a fist. "I'm staying here and that's final; now you'd best shove off before i personally toss yer wrinkly ass overboard!"


While the other Joes were getting the Constitution ready for action, Shipwreck had snuck down below, where he sees all the museum pieces. "Yippee, look who just hit the jackpot!" He says outloud, and switches hats. "How's this? Pretty snazzy, am i right?"

"Awk, you're a regular Captain Lame'o." Polly replied and flew out of reach when Shipwreck threatened to tie him to one of the cannon-stuffing poles.

A few minutes later. "Avast there, ya pasty faced, sour nosed, rickety minded landlubbers..."


As they came into visual range of the rogue vessel, Alpine sees General Hawk sighing at the impending confrontation. "You not liking this either, i see."

"What makes you say that, Alpine?" He asks, and is told how the climber's uncle, Oscar Pine, was part of the Montana's mess-hall staff back in the 40s before dying when a U-Boat fired on it in the Caribbean. Hawk nods and tells him a tale of his own from 1966.

Flashback.

He and 39 other soldiers were on a village clearing mission in eastern Thua Thien when he was a Lt. They heard a blast and screaming, causing them to drop down for a second before seeing that one of the flamethrower troops gt hit and take 6 men with him before a mass of Vietcong attacked. "Take cover and return fire!" A man with a Major's insignia ordered, then turned to him. "Abernathy, lead some men around that building and draw there fire while we-" He was saying until he noticed a BRDM-1 and shoved him out of the way before it began shooting.

"Oh god, my knee!"/"Major Mendels is dead!"/"They're getting too-Ahh!"/"We gotta fucking cut out of here!" Some of them said before Abernathy got them back under control.

"Stay focused, damn you!" He shouted to a private who's name tape read J. Colton. "Get on the radio and call for an airstrike... a barrage... anything!" He ordered as he was reloading his M16.

"Right, sir." The Pvt. replied. After a few moments, they heard a tell-tale whistling noise before the enemy vehicle exploded.

"Who'd you get?" Lt. Abernathy asked him.

"Not sure what his name is, but he said U.S.S. Montana."

End flashback.


While the Baroness is mocking the failure of Destro's latest invention, Dial-Tone and Mainframe are playing Game Over II, when the phone rings. "Hello... Mrs. Who?... I'll tell him; goodbye." Dial-Tone says, and hangs up.

"Who was it?" Mainframe asks while he's leaving, but apparently isn't heard.

At the same time, Dusty is in the rec-room, where he, Bazooka, Quick Kick, Footloose, Snake-Eyes, and Sci-Fi are watching cartoons. "What're you guys doin' watching that?" Low-Light asks them while picking a pool cue.

"You'd rather we, like, watch guys shooting each other and stuff?" Footloose replies as Snake-Eyes pretends to yawn.

"That ain't a reason for Uncles Sam's Best to waste time on dumb kiddy shows." Leatherneck replies back after taking a turn.

"Reasons?, Boring!"/"Yeah, don't be such a Heffalump." Bazooka and Quick Kick say to him.

"What the hell's a Heffalump?" He asks, and starts regretting it when they start grinning at each other.

"Gasp; Mr. Remington Raider doesn't know what Heffalumps are?!" Quick Kick says, causing Leatherneck to groan as they, along with Cover-Girl... and Wet-Suit, who only moves his mouth due to not knowing the words, start singing a certain Disney song just before Hawk's calls for Dusty over the intercom.

"You wanted to see me, General?" He asks once he arrives, and notices Duke looking at him glumly. "Is there a problem?"

"I'm afraid there is, son." Hawk said, and after asking him to sit down, explained that he'd been informed that they got a call from the Texas City N.G. base saying a Mrs. Vasquez called them.

"Oh, she's a caretaker i hired for-" Dusty starts to say until his eyes widen. "Wait... my mother's gone, isn't she?"

Hawk, who hadn't gotten over Lattimer's suicide, shuts his eyes and nods.

While Dusty is drowning his sorrows in the barracks with Shipwreck and Footloose, Beachhead walks in. "Listen up, ladies. We gist overheard thuh Stingray* tawkin' bout sumpn called uh Vortex Cone. Dusty, yore exempt given chur loss." He tells them.

Dusty attempted to volunteer anyway when Shipwreck joined in. "Aw no ya don't, pal. You go sober yerself up for yer ma's funeral; I'll give those goons one for both of ya."


Chapter forty-two.

*Made up codename.