Part 2

Cobra

1 Before the mission

The Baroness had found what looked to be a gym like room. Soon she would be out on this secretive mission, and working out always calmed her. The more she saw of this organization, and its leader the less she liked it. Still, something about the whole thing drew her in. Called to her in some way. So now she practiced unarmed combat. Anastasia was so involved in her choreographed moves that she did not even notice when a man moved into the room behind her.

"Those are some pretty good moves you have there." The man said behind her "I am Golbus, designation range viper, I will be the lead on the mission."

"How nice, you know your name. Did you want a cookie?" Anastasia said with disdain

"No, I want to do my job as ordered. I want to keep you alive. You and I are it for this mission, and if I think you are more trouble than your worth, I will leave you behind, and deal with the Commader's wrath" Golbus said without any sign of anger showing.

The Baroness's Temper flared "How dare you talk to me like that! I could crush you like a worm. Do you have any idea WHO I AM?"

Golbus had walked over the wall and grabbed two pugil sticks. He threw one to The Baroness, and she caught it with ease.

"You are Anastasia Cisarovna. You were born in Eastern Europe, though I am not sure exactly where, I would guess by your accent that it was near Romania. You were the spoiled daughter of rich parents, who you rebelled against. You had one brother, Eugene. They sent you away to boarding school in hopes of curbing your temper. Instead, it only fueled your resentment. You were set against what you saw as the excesses of the overly wealthy, which you were one of. You're activism was only vocal at first, but soon escalated to petty crimes. Your wealth kept you out of legal problems, but you were soon expelled from the boarding school. You continued your extremist attacks against what you saw as the capitalist corruption, until one day you accidently killed your father. Of course, this could not be linked to you, but you still fled. You had remained off radar for many years, but resurfaced in the Bosnian civil wars. There you met Sebastian "Major" Bludd, and more importantly James McCullan." Golbus Said as he got e feel for his stick and moved into a sparring stance.

" Well, well, the pup can read. Do you have all my life kept in a file?" Anastasia asked, fishing for how much they actually knew of her.

"Very little of it actually. Most of what I said I pieced together from what I know of people with your psychological profile. Your father's death, your sudden vanishing, meeting up with McCullan, and a few other things were in the file."

Golbus struck out first with his stick, it was a cautious attack to her mid waist Anastasia thought. He was feeling for her weakness. Looking for that quick into a killing blow. She parried the attack and quickly countered. Success he took the bait and blocked. She quickly pulled the stick out of its attack and swept for the legs.

Golbus quickly jumped the incoming attack and brought his weight down on Anna's Weapon , causing her to drop it

"Interesting, Did your military training teach you that?" Anastasia asked, truly interested.

"No having to avoid crocs to get scrap food taught me that. What makes you think I was in the Military?" Golbus said as he kicked the pugil sick back up to her.

"You act too much like Military to be anything else. Soldiers are trained not born. So you trained with this Croc Master person?"

Golbus laughed as he answered, "You don't train with him. You survive the time you spend there. He has thirty or more crocodiles in that damn place and at any time they could kill you. At first you fight for what table scraps he gives you. Then comes second week when you have to get your own food. If you survive the entire 8 weeks, then you can survive pretty much anything."

This time The Baroness attacked first. She had a few blows deflected. In the end, though he put her on the floor. Golbus held out his Stick for Anastasia to pull herself up on. He didn't let go would have.

It was at this time Destro walked in. Golbus would have thought of him as James McCullan,but he had his war mask on. It was an impressive sight, though a bit gaudy. Still, look at some of the uniform Cobra troops wore. They were downright silly, serving little purpose, but to look interesting.

"Ah Destro, I was hoping to find you after had talked the Baroness about our upcoming mission. Cobra Comander wanted to assign an officer liaison to you in order to answer any questions you might have during your time here." Golbus said as he rested on the stick.

"And you are?" Destro asked with an annoyance his voice.

James McCullan was a man to be feared, and Destro, should cause terror in any man who lays eyes on him. This man, though, was not phased in the least. Destro admitted to himself that there was no real reason for is anger, but this place was getting to him. Something about all of this was causing a rot inside of Destro, and yet he could not walk away.

"I am Sergeant first class Golbus of the Range Vipers. I will be heading up the operation to DC, and have been tasked Personally to make sure Baroness comes back unharmed."

"When exactly were you given these orders?" Destro asked as he put is arm around Anna when she came to stand beside him.

"Shortly after your first meeting with The Commander." Golbus said matter of a factly.

"We had not even decided if we were going to help at that time." The Baroness States.

"The Commander figured you would have to stay on, in some capacity at least. M.A.R.S. weapons would find their way to us somehow, and in truth they already have. You have seen some of our troop numbers,and vehicles. We can take an hold large patches of land against a well armed force for a long period of time. Eventually, it will come out to some movers Shakers that M.A.R.S. Tech is being used by our force. In that scenario, it is imperative for M.A.R.S Corp to have the figure head Destro take the fall for the diverted shipments of arms to an enemy of the state. Since I am sure you have already had most of what The Commander has purchased written off as lost, or stolen, cargo it needs to go somewhere, and Having Destro be fully visible in the Cobra rank and file gives M.A.R.S Corp's legal enterprises a safety net, even if most who look closely at James McCullan and Destro suspect that are the same person. It is a convenient lie heads of state can use to keep buying their own M.A.R.S. weapons.

Destro knew this man was a strategist of some skill. He had already spelled out step for step what Destro had already done, and of the things planned to do. It was a wonder why this man worked for the Commander, and was not some high ranking strategist for the military.

"Now if you will, I would like to introduce you to Cobra Officer Jenkins" Golbus said to Destro.