#3 - "Trial By Fire"

Credits

Writer - John Ney Reiber / Art - Jae Lee / Colors - June Chung / Letters - Benjamin Lee

Story

At the Fera Islands, the second G.I. Joe strike team sit in wait; they need the first Joe team to indicate that Cobra's communications and defense systems are down before they can proceed. Once that happens, they'll take the Cobra airfield, then the American fleet can be called in.

Elsewhere on the island, Stalker is searching for the rest of his team. He takes out a wandering Cobra sentry, bumps into one of the Aerialbots, then reunites with the rest of the Joes. Stalker tells them that Snake-Eyes is lost, but Duke doesn't believe it. However, even as the Aerialbots push back the Decepticon planes, Cobra paratroopers fall from the sky, firing on the Joes and the Autobots!

At the Cobra Terrordome, Megatron orders a squad of Cobra troops to move his energon cubes on board a sbmarine. Cobra Commander is displeased at this, and pointedly reminds Megatron that he is in charge. When Megatron defies this and threatens to rebel, Cobra Commander cripples him with the power of the Matrix, and brings him back in line.

Back at the castle, Stormshadow watches in dark amusement as Snake-Eyes battles Ravage. Despite the odds, Snake-Eyes uses his warrior skills to destroy Ravage will a well-placed grenade, then fights through a trio of Cobras before attacking Stormshadow again. He handily pins Stormshadow, but refuses to kill his "blood brother." Stormshadow mocks his cowardice, then jumps down to a nearby gun emplacement... and finds a live grenade next to him. The castle ramparts explode in a blinding fireball.

Seeing the explosion, Flint takes that as a signal to proceed, then looks for Breaker to call in the fleet. Unknown to him, however, Zartan has already killed Breaker and taken his place, and it is Zartan who asks Flint about the details of their plans again...

Elsewhere, Grimlock and Roadblock are leading an Autobot charge through the Cobra ranks when they come across one Cobra hutched over in a loose-fitting jacket. Without a word, the trooper's arms turn into piledrivers, and Rumble pounds open a chasm in front of them!