After returning to his home, packing up his few possessions and catching a little sleep, Launchpad McQuack was in the Thunderquack soaring toward Duckburg and his return to his former position as Scrooge McDuck's ace pilot.
"I wonder how much things have changed," Launchpad thought as the city of St. Canard disappeared from sight.
As Launchpad entered the city of Duckburg, he would be surprised at what he would see. The tiny, quaint, peaceful town he had left had been largely replaced by a sprawling metropolis of glittering modern skyscrapers.
However, Scrooge's mansion looked pretty much as he had remembered it. Launchpad would set the Thunderquack down on McDuck's expansive back lawn.
Scrooge McDuck was sipping coffee and reading the newspaper in his living room when his peace and quiet were interrupted by the sound of jet engines.
"What the hell?" said the duck as he ran outside. He was puzzled at the sight of the strange aircraft parked on his lawn. The hatch would then slide open and Launchpad would climb out of the plane.
"Hiya, Mr. McD," exclaimed the pilot as he approached his former employer.
"I must say, lad," McDuck said. "Ye really know how ta make an entry."
"Yeah," Launchpad said.
"That's quite a plane ye got there," Scrooge said, inspecting the Thunderquack.
"Yep," Launchpad said proudly. "Built her myself."
"Really?" Scrooge asked.
"Yes," said the pilot. "The Thunderquack was built from spare parts I had lying around the hangar."
"And you've never crashed it?"
"Nope," Launchpad said. "The Thunderquack's the only plane I've managed to keep in one piece."
"I'm impressed," Scrooge said. "Ye really seem ta have turned things aroond."
"I suppose I have," said McQuack.
"Let's go inside and discuss me first mission with ye," Scrooge said.
"Sure thing," Launchpad said.
The two head inside McDuck's mansion and then into his massive dining room. Scrooge sits down at the head of the table.
"Have a seat, me lad," Scrooge said. Launchpad then takes a seat at the table.
"Can I get ye anything?" McDuck then asked.
"No, I'm good," said Launchpad.
"Now," said McDuck. "That son of a bitch Flintheart Glomgold has teamed up with the evil organization FOWL and together they're plannin' on cleanin' out me gold mines in Morocco."
"Oh?" Launchpad said. "And what are we gonna do about it?"
"I've had me miners dig out all the gold and we're gonna fly over there and transport it back here, where it'll be safe within me money bin," Scrooge said.
"Sounds like a piece of cake," said McQuack.
"This mission will be quite dangerous, lad," McDuck said, shaking his head. "The whole country is full fo FOWL operatives, and they'll be a-gunnin' for us."
"Oh," Launchpad said. "Well, worry not, Mr. McD. I'll get us there and back before those FOWL fools ever notice us."
"That's what I'm countin' on," Scrooge said. "Let's get down to me brand new transport plane."
"Sure," Launchpad said, rising to his feet. Scrooge gets up and they both step out of the dining room. They are met at the front door by Duckworth.
"Where to, sir?" asked the butler.
"To the airport, Duckworth," McDuck said. The three of them then head out to Scrooge's limo and get in. They then drive off for the airport.
"So, Mr. McD," said Launchpad. "Whatever became of your three nephews, uhh, Harry, Larry and Danny?"
"It's Huey, Dewey, and Louie," McDuck replied. "And they went back to living with Donald."
"Oh," Launchpad said. "And how's old Donny been doing?"
"Not bad at all," said Scrooge. "He's part-owner of a popular nightclub downtown."
"Really?" Launchpad said.
"Yes," Scrooge responded. "I never figured a useless idiot like him would make it in business."
"And what's happened to that Beakley chick and her annoying grand daughter?" Launchpad then asked.
"I don'a know, lad," Scrooge said, shaking his head. "They left after me nephews left, and I haven'a heard from them since."
"Oh," said Launchpad. "Is that dork Fenton still working for you?"
"Aye, lad," Scrooge said. "And I'd thank ye to stop insultin' all me employees."
"Sorry, sir," Launchpad said.
They would soon arrive at the airport and drive up alongside an airplane that resembled the one Launchpad had wrecked years earlier, only sleeker and more modern. Launchpad could not believe his eyes.
"The Lightning Duck 10000B?" he remarked.
"Nay, lad," McDuck said, shaking his head as the limo stopped. "Tis the latest model of Lightning Duck, the 10000C."
"OK," said Launchpad as they got out of the limo and started for the plane.
"Now Launchpad," Scrooge said. "This is probably the most important mission I've ever had ye do, so ya had best not screw this one up."
"Don't worry, Mr. McD," Launchpad said. "I'm a changed man. My crashin' days are over."
"I'm glad ta hear that," said Scrooge. "Let's get out of here." The two board the plane and then take off for Scrooge's gold mine.
Steelbeak was furious as he entered FOWL's headquarters for a rare face-to-face meeting with the three shadowy figures who ran the evil organization. The chief agent for FOWL had been left out of the plans to take over McDuck's gold mine, and he had arrived at headquarters to demand an explanation for this decision.
The rooster now stormed into the office of his bosses. The three of them sat behind a large ornate desk, watching the agent enter from the darkness that always surrounded them.
"Why Agent Steelbeak," said one of them. "We were just about to call you."
"Yes," said another. "We have an important assignment for you."
"More important than robbin' McDuck's gold mine?" Steelbeak asked.
"Well, uh," said the third member of FOWL's high command. "We wanted that mission to actually succeed."
The other two look at him angrily.
"Uh, I mean, this mission is much more important than cleaning out old Scrooge. This is a mission that even you, I mean only you can complete."
"Yes," said the first of the three bosses. "This is Todd Greenley." He hands Steelbeak a photograph of Todd, Oliver Featherstone's erstwhile assistant and current chief crime fighter of Forest City. "We want you to bring him to us."
"Why?" asked Steelbeak as he examined the photo of the young bespectacled turtle. "He's just some dorky kid."
"You would think that," said the boss.
"But this turtle represents a serious threat to our operations in Forest City. He's crafty and intelligent, and we don't want him to get in our way."
"If youse guys say so," Steelbeak said. "But do you really need him here? I could easily shell him like a walnut and turn what's left into turtle soup."
"Because's he's also cute and we want to keep him as a pet," said the other one of Steelbeak's superiors.
"Yes," said the first boss. "We've already got a fish bowl with a plastic palm tree set up."
"So, don't mess this one up."
"Here is all the information you'll need to locate Mr. Greenley." Steelbeak is then handed a piece of paper.
"OK," said the rooster, scanning the paper. "Dis one should be child's play."
"It had better be," said one of the bosses. "We've grown tired of your constant bumbling."
"Yes," said the other. "If you fail this time, you're through."
"Don't worry. I'll bring ya back dis toitle wit no problems. After all, dat Darkwing Jerk don't work Forest City."
"Now get going," said his boss.
Steelbeak now heads out of the office to carry out his latest mission.