Editor : Dwayne Marshall

Assistant editor : Rod Hannah

Contributing writers:

Rod Hannah

Dwayne Marshall

Spiro Agnew

Harrison Yee
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COBRA COMMAND website changes
compiled by Dwayne Marshall

RANKS, MEDALS, AND PROMOTIONS
designed by Rod Hannah

INSIDE COBRA INTERVIEWS an Eel commander
by Rod Hannah

DIARY OF A RANGE VIPER
excerpt compiled by Harrison Yee

COBRA WILL WIN !
written by Rod Hannah
used with permission of Modern Times magazine.

PULLING TEETH The humor of Dr. Mindbender
compiled by Spiro Agnew

THINGS TO REMEMBER IF YOUR AN EVIL OVERLORD
compiled by Dwayne Marshall

THE REAL STORY WHY WE LOST MILLEVILLE
written by Dwayne Marshall

UPCOMING PLANS
listed by Rod Hannah
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COBRA COMMAND
located at : http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/turnpike/97/index.html
has undergone a comprehensive makeover since its inception many months ago. For those of you that haven't visited our new site here is a breakdown of the changes.

The Fanzine section allows you to browse through the archive of fanzines, as well as letting you subscribe to it.

The History is under construction, but take a look at whats there.

Biographies will soon feature a new bio for the various members of Cobra each month.

The Handbook section is our online guide to Cobra. The information here is not complete, but will continue to be updated. We currently provide info on Cobra's troops, vehicles and possesions around the world.

The Academy is the place you go if you want to apply for membership with us. You fill out the form in the style of a filecard. However not just anyone is accepted, we are going to be getting picky about new members. Membership will allow you to have a greater say in how Cobra Command is run and managed. You will also gain greater access to the sites more secret features and expiremental operations. sshhhhhh!

The Hall of Fame is where you can check out which of our members are doing the best, where you can be promoted too, and the medals you can receive.

Our Links section has links to both pages of our members and our ally pages, such as Zartan's Domain and Dr Mindbender's Scullery. There are also one or two links to the main G.I. Joe info pages.
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RANKS
All those who join us start out at E-4 specialist.

PROMOTION AND AWARDS

Depending on your efforts for Cobra you will receive one of three awards. These awards tally up to give you a promotion. Below is a listing of the three awards and what they equal.

Bronze Serpent Clusters : A guage of ones small acheivments and efforts in a number of clusters. These are given out for help, a lot of feedback and smaller contributions and updates.

5 Bronze Serpent Clusters = 1 Promotion up the ranks.

Cobra Dagger : Awarded to those who have proven themselves in battle against overwhelming odds. These are given to Cobra members for contributions to the site or fanzine, in the form of articles, reviews, help, updates, graphics etc...

1 Cobra Dagger = 1 Promotion up the ranks

Medal of Villainous Valor : Awarded to those who have field tested new equipment, machines and volunteered for augmentation. These are awarded to people who pioneer new features for the site and fanzine. These are intended to be new regular features or something unique yet large and with significant amount of effort

1 Medal of Villainous Valor = 2 Promotions up the ranks
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FEATURES

Inside Cobra: Interview
This Month: Kyle Ellersly (Eel Commander).

Inside Cobra: How long have you been an Eel?

Kyle Ellersly: For four years now.

IC: What do you think of the Eels?

KE: The Eels are top-notch. They work well as a team, and they get the job done with optimum effiency. The Eels are an integral part of Cobra. They are essential to all naval and coastal operations, and their level of expertise in cold environments makes them invaluable to the many divisions within the organisation. I beleive Eels have a great future, and an increasingly important role in Cobra.

IC: What does it take to be an Eel?

KE: It takes a lot of stamina, especially in the initial training which can be very arduous on inductees. It takes a high level of commitment and determination. You have to be prepared to go through a lot of rough, and hardships and extremes of the icy ocean. You need a focused mind, and able to cooperate well with a team. You can't survive solo in a sub cut-off from the world for up to 6 months. You have to be able to communicate well.

IC: What was your worst experience as an Eel?

KE: Basic training.

IC: Why, exactly?

KE: Only 35% of the people who apply to be an Eel make it through the initial training course. Its tough, especially when you first break into it. It can be quite a wakeup call, and it tells you a lot about yourself. I went through it twice, before I was accepted. The first time I just couldn't make it. Swimming out from Cobra Island, unprotected, in shark infested waters is a testing experience.

IC: What is the best thing about being an Eel?

KE: You get some respect. Superiors don't pick on you, and you get to make your own calls a lot more. Basically you have greater freedom.

IC: What is the story with the new brighter colored costumes?

KE: Oh. I thought this would come up. (Laughs). They were introduced experimentally for a short time, and then modified slightly the following year and became standard issue. The gold was toned down recently. It incorporates a special insulation against the electrically charged harpoon guns being introduced soon. They are also more flexible and light compared to the old. The head gear isn't quite as good. But with a little improvement, it will be a lot better than the original. Likely to keep on changing over the years. Those designers can't seem to make their minds up.

IC: What does your diet consist of?

KE: Lots of vegetables, meats and plenty of mineral water.

IC: Mineral water?

KE: Yes. It's just a preference of mine. I don't think they'd be too happy if we started on the alchohol.

IC: What about Coke? Or if thats to dangerous, how about Diet Coke, or Pepsi?

KE: Kid, its not advisable to drink a lot of diet coke and then go on a mission in which you may have to surface quickly. Nitrogen Narcosis and Diet Coke is a proven deadly mix.

IC: How do you feel about the drugs they give you guys?

KE: Well, since its all to help us be more comfortable in the cold depths of the ocean, its okay. The reflex enhancements and steroid supliments are optional, and given out sparingly.

IC: Would you ever consider undergoing augmentation to a Hydro-Viper?

KE: No. I'm not keen on them. I have ambitions in life that wouldn't allow for webbed feet.

IC: Have you worked with a Hydro-Viper before?

KE: Once. Its an uncomfortable feeling. They are very strong, and incredibly fast underwater. In all honesty they are the toughest and best underwater operatives in the world. Navy Seals eat your heart out. But if you've been around one, during a mental collapse, brought on by the changes in the body . . . its disturbing.

IC: Are you aware of the myth circulating about Eels within the lower ranks?

KE: I take it your refering to the talk about Hydro-Vipers?

IC: No. Many think of Eels as some sort of elite super troop. Particularly popular with the Vipers.?

KE: Oh. I think the famous hyporbole is at work here. There's bound to be a lot of exaggeration about the Eel training program. The physical side is what everyone hears about, but it really is a small part of our overall training. In fact most of the training involves basic to advanced courses in marine engineering. We learn how to operate all the basic Warsaw pact submersibles and weapons. We end up qualified operators of all Cobra naval vessels. I think a common mistake being made is the confusion of us with Navy Seals. We undergo a similar training, but it is not as thorough, or as long, and no where near as tough.

IC: Whats your view on Cobra, today?

KE: Cobra is expanding so fast its impossible to keep track. The Eels are busier all the time, particularly with Arctic Ops, in which, as you no doubt know, Snow Serpents and Ice Vipers are plucked out from our ranks. We are getting more user friendly equipment, and the suits are improving in terms of comfort and flexibility. Things are a lot better now than four years ago, beleive you me. Cobra's going places.

IC: What are your aspirations in Cobra?

KE: I'd like to be Captain of one of Cobra's modified ARB.co class cargo freighters, in the not too distant future.

IC: Why's that?

KE: I don't know, its just something that appeals to me. I like the idea of being a commanding officer of one of Cobra's biggest naval vessels.

IC: Any tips to prospective Eels out there?

KE: Make sure you get plenty of excercise before signing up for the physcial training course. And be mentally ready for a lot of intial hardships. Things will be that much easier if you prepare.

IC: Thanks for taking the time to be interviewed.

Next month: we speak to Kurt Baggat, Cobra's number one Saw Viper. We ask him the question, could he surpass Jule Viener's Joe kill tally.

Inside Cobra interviewer: Rod Hannah
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Diary of a Range Viper:
excerpt compiled by Harrison Yee.

The following are excerpts from a diary kept by Range Viper A______ from Range Viper Squad Charlie Victor during Cobra's Gulf Campaign. Security sensitive information has been omitted (including proper names of fellow Vipers).

Aug. 20, 0300 hrs
Cottonmouth Base, North Africa

Our squad arrives at Cottonmouth Base today. It's not bad to have a base here in the desert. But it's a little too comfortable. Can't wait until we get our orders and go back into the brush. D_____ told me that the Crimson Twins negotiated with the tinpot dictator of this sandpit for a base from which to stage our Gulf Campaign. I gotta say, I'm impressed. Our campaign is gonna strike against a nation led by the cousin of this country's dictator and the Crimson Twins managed to make a deal for a couple of obsolete HISS tanks and Stinger Jeeps, I guess everyone's got a price, even this so-called "Leader for Life".

Well, I can hear the landing gear being deployed. Gotta go.

Aug. 22, 1300 hrs
Cottonmouth Base, North Africa

Man, there are a lot of other organizations training here in the desert. A lot of these guys are amateurs and wouldn't stand a single workout session with Big Boa (I still have nightmares about that guy). D______ thinks that we've got a couple of infiltrators in these other outfits. He thinks that they're probably Siegies or something. I told him to keep that kinda thinking to himself. It ain't healthy thinking those thoughts out loud.

We're gonna be briefed on our mission later today. I'm looking forward to it, I'm going kinda stir crazy in this camp. And the food....man, I think I'd rather be eating whatever insects and lizards I can forage instead of this stuff.

Aug. 22, 2100 hrs
Cottonmouth Base, North Africa

Great! This is gonna be a great mission. We're gonna be the insertion team in the first step of our Gulf Campaign. Our squad has to establish a firebase in XXXXXXXX as an operations center.. Once we've set up the base, Laser Vipers will join up with us and light up the targets for the airborne ordnance. I'm gonna like this.

Oh yeah, we're gonna be getting a Desert Scorpion as a scout. Our squad leader doesn't think we're gonna need one, after all we're the Range Vipers. But, command says this guy is a veteran Scorp and we gotta take him.

Veteran Desert Scorpion? Man, what kinda loser is this guy?

Aug. 25 0600 hrs
Cottonmouth Base, North Africa

I hate that Scorpion! Believe me, they are not kidding when they say that the Desert Scorpion Corps is comprised entirely of the scum of the earth. This guy used to be a Viper until he fragged his own squad leader during a mission. That was three years ago! Since then, he's been guilty of rank insubordination, dereliction of duty and who knows what else. He's rude and arrogant. He never refers to our Squad Leader by rank. He's never on time for our training exercises.

But I have to admit, he knows his stuff. I think he actually likes being a Desert Scorpion! He can hide in the sand. You gotta appreciate that! I mean, there's no cover out here, it's just a great big wide open space of sand dunes. But, that doesn't stop him. We were all taken by surprise when he popped out of nowhere and pegged our squad leader and his RTO during a field training exercise.

I respect his abilities, I just wish he was a little more disciplined.

August 28, 1800 hrs.
Cottonmouth Base, North Africa

Well, we got our shipping orders. We're gonna be moving out later on tonight. So, I can't write for long.

The following are excerpts from radio transmissions on August 28, 2100hrs from Cottonmouth Base.

Mamba Alpha34: This is Mamba Alpha34, requesting permission to land.

Squad Charlie Victor: Permission granted, Mamba Alpha34. We'll be assembled at the LZ for loading.

Mamba Alpha34: Roger that Charlie Victor......(explosion in background) What the hell! Charlie Victor, I just lost my wingman. We are aborting landing. I say again, we are aborting landing. We are under surface-to-air fire. Advise you find the hostile SOB and toast his ass!

Squad Charlie Victor: Roger, Mamba Alpha34. Get the hell out of here. We've targeted the SAM launcher and are sending a fire team to take it out. It looks like our gracious host has decided to stab us in the back. Mamba Alpha34, can you provide air support?

Mamba Alpha34: Negative, Charlie Victor. We're suited up only for a transport mission. We had to strip armaments to conserve fuel. You're on your own.

Squad Charlie Victor: Roger, Mamba Alpha34. Godspeed. This is Squad Leader L_______ to all fire team units. Fire team 1, converge on the SAM launcher.

Fire Team 1: Roger

Squad Charlie Victor: I want fire team 3 to set up a position on the sand dune over to the left to provide cover fire.

Fire Team 3: Roger

Squad Charlie Victor: Fire team 2, establish a security perimeter around the LZ. Fire team 2, acknowledge. Say again, fire team 2 acknowledge

Fire Team 3: Sir, this is 3, I just saw Team 2 get hit by a mortar. The shell came from that Shining Path campsite to the east. Our spotter has reported movement in the other camps. Their units are all converging on the LZ. (crackle of small arms fire followed by static)

Squad Charlie Victor: Team 3, report. Damn! Team 1, hold off on the SAM launcher and return to LZ. We are under attack from multiple hostiles. Team 3, report

Fire Team 3: Sir, this is 3. The sarge is down. We got hit from the rear, oh man, D_____, don't die on me, man.

Squad Charlie Victor: Who am I speaking to?

Fire Team 3: Sir, this is Range Viper A_______.

Squad Charlie Victor: Alright, son, you are in charge of 3 now. Secure the sand dune, we still need cover fire. This whole friggin' camp is turning on us. We are knee deep, son.

Fire Team 3: Roger that, sir. We're moving out.

End of excerpt ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
part 2