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A Night-Viper's helmet is a miracle of electronic-miniaturization. Aside from its Monocular Night Vision Device (MNVD), it includes a wide-angle, third-generation, image-intensifier, directional sound amplifier, laser range-finder, and boasts a passive infrared detector that can spot the body heat of a lizard at 90 meters. The Night-Viper's combat suit, helmet, and weapons are mostly made of synthetic composites that reduce the wearer's own infrared signature and defy most ground radars. The uniform boasts a battlefield combat shoulder bandolier, a high-tech signal kit, hydraulic-enhanced, energized power regulators, a laser side arm retention holster, leather padded shin protectors, and a tele-communications translator. The Night-Viper can use either electronically-assisted ranged weapons or vicious CQB (close quarter battle) techniques to accomplish any mission. All these components give him a “see first… eliminate first” advantage in any night fighting scenario.
Night-Vipers were first dispatched to Canada and the United States in 1989, then Europe, and finally India in 1995. The India-based deployment may have been a less distinguished group of troopers as their uniforms lacked the traditional Night-Viper Corps patch sewn onto the left arm and were imprinted with a variant Cobra symbol. However, any lack of combat effectiveness has not been corroborated by any intelligence reports. In 1992, Cobra began to re-use most of the Night-Viper uniform and equipment with its Heli-Viper Battle Copter troopers. In 2005, Destro outfitted General Mayhem's special cadre of Iron Grenadiers using an upgraded version of the Night-Viper uniform.
In 2006, Cobra Commander personally chose a Night-Viper squad leader for Operation: Flaming M.O.T.H. and teamed him with a Frag-Viper for the satellite recovery mission. Combining their specialized skills and equipment, the jungle duo crept into the deepest, darkest jungles of South America to locate the first of four components from the sabotaged U.S. Military satellite. They were tasked to find this crucial piece wherever it might be hidden in the nearly impenetrable labyrinth of trees and vines before any G.I. Joe troops could intervene.
In his youth, this future Cobra found comfort in perpetual darkness, hating sunlight and those who would revel in it. His criminal exploits in the dark hours of the night lead him to join Cobra and gradually rise within its ranks. He gained the attention of Cobra high command after leading many successful raids on G.I. Joe outposts.
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