Meanwhile: In the Andromeda Galaxy on a large space station a meeting was taking place. The space station was massive and it had an "I.A.P" logo that stood for the Intergalactic Alliance of Planets. Outside, it was heavily guarded and a transport shuttle was nearing the space station. The inside was very hi-tech and surprisingly comfortable. In the meeting room there were representatives of all planets. It looked like the meeting room of the "U.N." and each representative had his/her own desk.
The room itself was huge. In the center there was a circle which could levitate for speech purposes. From Earth to Mars and Corneria to Kerwan were representatives of the planets that were part of this alliance. Some of these representatives included Captain Qwark (President of the Polaris Galaxy), General Peppy, Doctor IQ Hi, Commander X2 (Marvin the Martian), Ashlein Praxis, Dash Bowman, and even agent Topaz.
On the screen above them, showed photos of Duck Dodgers, Knuckles, Ratchet, Clank, Daxter, and Fox. Also, mug shots of Jak, Falco, and Wolf were shown. It displayed background info, criminal records, abilities, accomplishments, and occupations of these select nine. Qwark's phone started ringing, he answered and after a few seconds he hung up, he rose from his seat and spoke.
"Ok, Colonel Bill Grey has informed me that he and Captain Star Johnson have arrived."
"Are we all sure this is such a good idea?" Asked Topaz. "I mean three of these men have done time."
"Of course it is. These are best of the best in the entire universe." Replied Ashlein.
"But was kidnapping them necessary? Asked Peppy.
"I agree, the only one that would have required kidnapping is this Wolf fellow." Recalled X2.
"There was a mistake in the orders and yes only Wolf was required to be kidnapped." Replied the Galactic President Qwark.
There was silence in the room until IQ spoke.
"All disagreements aside, we need the best of the best to combat this new threat and that's where they come in."
"And what threat is that?" Asked a representative from the planet Katina.
"For some time now, there has been a very large increase of piracy, crime, rebellions, and terrorism. We have evidence that suggests that all this is linked, and we believe this is all part of something bigger." Replied Ashlein.
"That's why need these guys, to investigate and put an end to this." Said Qwark.
Yet again there was silence until Dash Bowman ruler of the planet Venom spoke.
"I have one question."
"Yes Mr. Bowman." Replied Qwark.
"I've been going through their files and I personally know McCloud, Lombardi, and O'Donnell. But in the file of this "Duck Dodgers" it says he's exceedingly dumb but over the last months we've been monitoring him I've witnessed high levels of cunningness and wit."
"Ah yes, in Dodgers' early years of service he was lazy, foolish, and stupid. But he became disgusted with what he was, so he trained himself to the best he could in mental and physical sense." Replied IQ.
Dash along with other representatives that were listening took in the surprising info and seemed to have satisfied looks upon their faces. At that moment the main doors to the massive room opened. Colonel Bill Grey and Captain Star Johnson entered. Everyone looked at the two as they approached the center circle.
"Representatives of all planets, Colonel Bill Grey and I have delivered the Star Force Team."
Meanwhile in the transport shuttle: Wolf was coming to. His vision was blurred but he managed to focus and everything returned to normal, well almost. He looked around and noticed he was in chains, also he saw he wasn't on Aquas anymore.
But what caught his eye the most were seven beings also in chains knocked out and lying on the floor near him. Two of the faces he knew all too well, they were none other than Falco Lombardi and Fox McCloud. Wolf knew they weren't behind this, so who was? He decided to get some answers.
"McCloud, Lombardi, wake up!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.
His gruff voice yelling woke up more than just Fox and Falco. Everyone woke up as well, some calmly and some just literally jumped awake. Everyone looked around trying to make sense of their situation. The peace was broken when literally everyone was yelling at each other. Everything was in chaos, some blaming others for the mess they were in, and others trying to escape.
Knuckles being the strongest there couldn't break out of his chains. They had given him three times the normal knock out dose and his chains converted his strength into nerve impulses. Dodgers' chains were unusually strong, possibly made out of the indestructible element adamantium, so he couldn't break free. And Jak and Daxter couldn't use their powers due to the guards drugging them. Everyone was still yelling which prompted Falco to yell.
"Does anyone want to explain what the hell is going on?"
"Why don't you tell us bird brain?" Yelled back Daxter.
Falco got so angry he tried to jump at Daxter but since he was chained to the wall he didn't go anywhere.
"Watch your step rat." Snapped back Falco.
"Yo birdie! Why don't you go lay an egg and fly away?" Replied Jak.
"What did you say about birds?" Yelled back Dodgers.
Ratchet watched as everyone was biting each other's heads off with their words. He knew that if he were to get out of here, he would probably need their help.
"Everyone shut the hell up now!" Yelled Ratchet making sure everyone heard.
Everything was quiet. The seven of them all looking at Ratchet.
"Ok, now that we've stopped trying to kill each other, let's find out how we all got here."
Everyone nodded in agreement before Ratchet spoke yet again.
"I'm Ratchet and this is Jak and that's Daxter." Said the Lombax as he pointed at the duo.
"I'm Duck Dodgers and this is Knuckles." Said the duck pointing to the echidna.
"I'm Fox McCloud, he's Falco Lombardi and he's-" But Fox was cut off by Wolf.
"O'Donnell. Wolf O'Donnell." Spoke the Wolf coldly.
There was silence among them when suddenly the doors opened revealing 6 guard bots. They were a new model, equipped with the latest equipment which made them very lethal.
"What the hell is going on here?" Yelled Daxter.
The guards simply ignored him. They released them from their chains and instead put them in gauntlet like cuffs. The guards led the seven in single file out of the shuttle and into the space station. No one spoke while walking through the space station. The guards had led them through a large hallway, with a chrome color to it. Seeing this as a good time to escape, Dodgers made his move.
"Excuse me. Mr. Guard Bot?" Called the duck with an obviously fake polite tone in his voice.
The guard turned to face Dodgers but was met with a powerful uppercut that ripped its head off. Knuckles tackled the nearest robot to the ground and ripped its programming out. Seeing this as the right moment to strike, Wolf did a back flip kick that smashed the robot against the wall. Everyone was on the same page, three robots down six to go. While everyone attacked the guards, Daxter managed to slip out his cuffs.
He crawled low as to make sure no one saw him. He made his way to the dead robot and searched around. Meanwhile Jak and Ratchet were back to back. They had been dodging heavy laser fire as was everyone. Without needing to speak they knew each other's thoughts. They charged the lone robot and unleashed a furry of double team combos. Four down six to go. Meanwhile Fox and Falco were fighting the last two guard bots.
"Yo Fox?" Called Falco.
"Yeah partner." Replied the fox, ducking his head as a stray laser shot nearly took his head off.
"Let's take them out in style." Said Falco.
The two locked arms and did a double spinning tornado kick that kicked the heads of the two robots off their bodies. The first phase of their escape had begun but unfortunately that would be as far as they got. Daxter meanwhile found what he was looking for, the keys. He unlocked his cuffs and then hurried back to the group. Meanwhile Jak had noticed Daxter's abscence.
"Hey Ratchet. Have you seen Dax or Clank for that matter?"
But before Ratchet could answer Daxter spoke up.
"Right here partner but there is no sign of Clank or Merc and Green." Yelled Dax as he twirled the keys on the tip of his finger.
"And I found the keys."
"Great work Dax." Said Ratchet.
Daxter unlocked their cuffs and proceeded to unlock all the others.
"Thanks rat, you're ok." Said Falco as he rubbed his wrists,
"Easy birdie." Replied Daxter.
"So let me guess. All you guys were ambushed out of the blue and the next thing you knew, you were in a transport shuttle chained to the walls." Said Wolf, his arms folded across his chest and irony present in his voice. "Am I right?" He asked.
"Yeah, I think it's a safe bet to say you're right." Replied Jak.
They exchanged glances before Fox spoke.
"Now that we're free, I suggest we get out of here." Said Fox.
Everyone nodded in agreement before hurrying off to find an escape route. Little did they know they were being watched on the security cameras.
Back in the meeting room.
"You see, they weren't even at their full potential and they completely totaled the new guard bots." Said Qwark to the representatives as he turned the holoscreen off with the remote.
"I'm sure this proves to all of you that they are the best." Said IQ.
The delegates nodded in agreement and had faces of complete amazement. With that done, they had begun to disperse and return to their ships. When they were all gone, it left Qwark, IQ, Topaz, Ashlein, Peppy, Dash, Bill, Johnson, and X2 in the room alone. There was a brief moment of silence before Ashlein spoke up.
"Shouldn't we go talk to them before this gets out of hand." She suggested.
They nodded in agreement and made their way out of the room.
Meanwhile back with our escapees. They had been searching for an exit but since the space station was so huge, they had no luck. They screeched to a stop before a walkway that had two directions. They looked both ways wondering where to go.
"Which path should we take?" Asked Knuckles.
But before anyone could answer him, an unfamiliar voice to some spoke up.
"How about you gentlemen follow me?" Suggested the mysterious person that had yet to reveal himself.
"Dodgers! That voice!" Said Knuckles.
"IQ is that you?" Asked Dodgers.
"Yes it's me." Replied IQ as he stepped out of the shadows revealing himself.
They were semi-silent until Daxter spoke up.
"What the hell is going on here?" Yelled the ottsel.
"Ah yes. If you would all just follow me, then I think we can explain the situation to you." Said IQ as he started off.
Dodgers and Knuckles followed suit. The others were a bit reluctant to follow but after realizing that there was really no other option, they too followed. IQ led them through the left path and through a series of busy hall ways filled with scientists, guards, and a few representatives. Eventually they got to the elevator; they entered as the doors closed behind them. IQ pressed the button labeled "105th Floor" and in less than ten seconds they were there.
The doors opened allowing them to exit the elevator, and step into a very hi-tech hangar filled with weapons, tanks, and ships. Ratchet looked as if he had fallen in love with the weapons but he soon came back to reality. They rounded a corner and sure enough, standing before them was President Qwark, General Peppy, Ashlein, Topaz, Star Johnson, Bill Grey, X2, and Dash. The heroes' expressions on their faces were of complete shock, they never expected this.
"I know this may be a bit surprising." Said Peppy.
"A bit, try a bit too much gramps." Replied Falco.
"Hello Dodgers." Said X2 and Johnson in unison.
"Oh, it's you guys. You mind telling me why the fiancé of the Queen of Mars was kidnapped?" Replied the duck.
Dodgers and X2 had been enemies during the war between Earth and Mars. But even with the two planets at peace they never saw eye to eye. And Johnson was and still is Dodgers' protectorate rival.
"There was a mistake in the orders. Only that Wolf fellow was supposed to be taken by force." Replied X2, gesturing over to Wolf discretely.
After everyone was properly introduced, for those who didn't know one or the other, Topaz spoke up.
"Knuckles and Dodgers, I want to apologize for the way the G.U.N. agents treated you."
The two glared daggers at her. They all entered a strategy room with seats for all of them and more. When they were all settled, Dash spoke up.
"The reason we brought you all here, is that over the past year or so, there has been a large increase in crime, planetary rebellions, and terrorism. And we have evidence to believe this all linked."
IQ hit the "On" button to the holoscreen remote and on said screen, it showed video and photographic proof of what was being said.
"Ok. So what do you want us to do?" Asked Falco.
"That's where project Star Force comes in." Said Peppy.
"Star Force?" Said Wolf, Fox, and Falco in unison.
"That's right. We want you all to form Team Star Force, since all of you are the best, and put a stop to all of this." Said Ashlein.
"Just asking here. What happens if we don't do this?" Asked Wolf.
"This is no laughing matter. If anyone but you chooses not to accept then they'll be allowed to leave. But you, Wolf, will be incarcerated for your crimes. Knowing that we can't just force someone into an unwanted assignment, we're prepared to meet any demands you might have; amnesty from any past criminal actions is one demand that is very popular." Replied Topaz.
"So will you boys do it?" Asked Ashlein.
They thought it over for a few minutes but they soon realized there was no other choice. If there was a threat that really did need their expertise to handle it then how could they say no? Everyone but Wolf was a renowned hero and this kind of thing seemed to become an obligation more than anything else. Wolf, however, only sought freedom from being tailed by Cornerian law enforcement. Amnesty from his crimes was his only motive.
"How long do we have to do this?" Asked Ratchet.
"Just until you put an end to this." Replied Peppy.
The men looked to each other and without saying a word they came to a decision.
"Fine. We'll do it." Said Dodgers.
"Excellent. As of right now you all are placed under the command of the IAP's Intergalactic Protectorate. Effective immediately your positions in any other service branch of your respective planets or galaxies have been suspended until your service with the protectorate is complete. You'll answer to IAP officials only, understood?"
All nodded in response to Colonel Bill Grey's statement. Knuckles, however, spoke up.
"Just one question. Though we're now in a different service branch entirely, will we still interact with Earth's Galactic Protectorate and the military branches of other planets?"
Captain Johnson was quick to answer, beating Bill Grey to the punch. "Absolutely. The Intergalactic Protectorate works in tandem with IAP member planet military factions."
Knuckles nodded and remained silent. Wolf, however, made his voice heard.
"I expect you all to keep your promises when you said you'd meet any demand." Said lupine, coldly.
Peppy nodded, signifying that any demands Wolf had would be met.
"Now if you'll follow General Peppy and me, we can show you your ship." IQ said as he started off with Peppy following.
Team Star Force followed suit as Qwark and the others said goodbye. They continued through the hangar until they came to a massive ship that Fox, Falco, and Wolf knew all too well. The Great Fox! Wolf, Fox, and Falco were in shock while the others looked at the ship in amazement. Peppy was waiting for Fox to yell which was right now.
"Peppy! Why is my ship here and why was it stolen?" Yelled Fox.
"We thought it was gone for good!" Yelled Falco.
"Calm down. I can explain. When we were trying to decide which vessel would suit this team, we narrowed our list to the Great Fox, the Starship Drake, and the Starship Phoenix. After careful examination, the Great Fox was chosen as the superior vessel. So we took it and refurbished it, gave it upgraded weapons, and changed the team logo." Replied Peppy.
Peppy wasn't lying when he said the ship was upgraded. Its weapon system made Ratchet's eyes widen in amazement, and instead of a "Star Fox" logo there was now a "Star Force" logo.
"Everything you need is already aboard the ship. Your space fighters have been upgraded and remodeled a bit." Said IQ.
"What about weapons?" Asked Ratchet.
"The ships weapons vault has been stocked with plenty of weapons, gadgets, and other equipment. And the ship's hangar has many useful vehicles that you'll find to your liking." Replied IQ.
The Team nodded in agreement.
"Now if you'll follow me I'll show you into your new home." Said IQ as he entered the Great Fox.
The Team followed him but Dodgers was stopped by Peppy.
"Yes sir? Asked the duck.
"Dodgers, I have to tell you in private that you have been given command over this team." Said Peppy.
Dodgers wasn't expecting this. He knew he would be scolded by Fox and Falco for this.
"I'll do my best Sir. And how will the team be organized?" Asked Dodgers.
Peppy chuckled. Wolf will be your second in command and the rest; well I'm afraid that's your problem son." Said the General as he walked off leaving Dodgers standing there. He muttered out loud.
"Oh son of a-"
"Dodgers!"
"Huh?"
Dodgers turned around to see IQ in front of him.
"Dodgers, your team and crew are waiting aboard the ship. Take this disc, it'll give you some important info about your teammates. Also it'll show you your first mission. Good Luck."
"Thanks IQ, I'll see you later." Said Dodgers as he saluted his superior.
IQ did the same and left him there alone. Dodgers looked at the holodisc in his hands.
"This isn't going to be easy." He said to himself.
Dodgers put the disc in his pocket and ran up the ramp to the Great Fox.