Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict/International Rescue

International Rescue (abbreviated and stylised as iR), founded by billionaire astro-industrialist Jeff Tracy and astronaut Captain Lee Taylor, is a non-profit, non-governmental agency dedicated to assisting any who find themselves in danger, and in secret is one of the major members/task force of the Tacitus Rangers.

I.R. is the vision of its founder, Jeff Tracy. Starting as a philanthropic endeavor from Jeff, who was looking for the next chapter in his life when a sudden and fatal avalanche occurred while he was away, leading to the tragic and unexpected death of his wife and father as the rescue team couldn't reach them in time. An event that propelled him to try and prevent other sudden accidents from occurring.

Jeff's five grown sons - all with their own unique technical expertise - comprise the beating heart of International Rescue... piloting the five from-sea-to-space signature Thunderbirds, along with operating additional rescue equipment capable of fantastic feats thanks to the advanced technology that I.R. possesses. Strict security is maintained - at home and in the field - to protect both the organization itself and its many secrets, because in Jeff's own words: "If this organization is not securely t, it cannot remain functional"

The organization's carefully-concealed headquarters is at Tracy Island, somewhere in the South Pacific, where the extended Tracy family resides, and is one of the major outposts for the Rangers.

History
In a twisted way. International Rescues' origin lies within the Rangers, who were responsible for giving Jeff the resources to make it and for causing the accident that took his wife and father.

At first, the organization was born out of ambition, as Jeff Tracy was looking for something new to strive for. Reading the front of that morning's newspaper, he learns that hundreds of innocent people have died in a major accident purely because there was a lack of equipment and knowledge to save them. A spark forming in his mind, Jeff weighs up the idea of forming a rescue organization over the next two weeks, concerned that a number of problems may make the task impossible. However, another, more personal, disaster struck a week later when the villa where Jeff's entire family was staying while he was away and the town below it was suddenly struck by a massive avalanche. And by the time Jeff and the rescue team came over half of the townsfolk had died while Jeff's wife, Lucille, and father had already perished from their injuries.

The origin of this avalanche lies within the Ranger's actions. As a few miles away the Turbo Rangers, who didn't know about the nearby town, was fighting against Collective infiltrators that unintentionally caused a massive explosion triggering the avalanche. And by the time the Rangers realized what happened it was too late. And to this day that accident remains to forever remind the Rangers that they can easily harm innocents if they're not careful.

In grief, Jeff becomes determined to see his rescue organization come to life. He spends the next few months looking for a base based on three criteria: secrecy, remoteness, and suitability. Eventually, he finds island Four-forty-five, an island atoll in the South Pacific named after its grid reference. Under the guise of an eccentric millionaire, he has no difficulty in purchasing the island and moves his family over to build a villa themselves.

The next step was the hardest - Jeff and his sons needed to find a trusted team of people to help assemble this rescue organization. He eventually settled on 90 men and women, which would include some of Jeff's closest friends, his old Aquilan airforce colleagues, directors in his civil engineering company, and members of the Rangers, who were both interested in this organization and to atone for the avalanche. These people would help supply intricate machinery, deliver them secretly to the island, and send talented engineers. Construction initially started smoothly, taking advantage of the island's vast natural caverns to convert into aircraft hangars. However, a roadblock was quickly hit when no one on his assembled team was able to design and construct a limited amount of dedicated rescue craft. Jeff wanted five at the start, capable of carrying out every kind of rescue. He traveled around the world looking for this 'genius' to no success, and he retired to Orlais, almost defeated, when he stumbled upon Hirem Hackenbacker giving a lecture in a city hall. Immediately wowed by his knowledge, Jeff approached him with the idea of his rescue organization, which Hirem immediately accepted and traveled to the island the following morning. Over time, Hirem would come to be known as 'Brains'.

Within a week, Brains, with the secret aid of the Rangers, had designed the five rescue craft, but it would take four years for construction to be completed on them. The last craft to be finished was the second space satellite, which was ferried piece by piece into orbit and constructed there. with construction complete, the 90-person team Jeff had assembled was sent back to their normal roles in society, but with new roles as the organization's field agents. Jeff's mother and his friend Kyrano would now move to the island, and scheduled to be shortly joining them was Kyrano's daughter Kayo. However, Kayo's flight was sabotaged, which provided the perfect first rescue mission for the organization.

And a few years later the Rangers would directly meet him. Told him about the help they gave in making International Rescue, being the cause of his wife and fathers death, and offered him to join, to help conduct rescues as the Rangers fight so that the Avalanche scenario never happens again. And thus International Rescue became the second main division of the Tacitus Rangers, tasked with rescuing and evacuating innocents when disaster or wars strike.

The Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds are the five (seven) primary "miracle machines" of International Rescue, with Thunderbirds six and beyond being mass-produced models made by the Rangers. Each one (with the exception of Thunderbird Shadow) is specially designed to fill a certain requirement in the organization's operations and has at least one dedicated pilot from amongst the inhabitants of Tracy Island, including IR leader Jeff Tracy's five sons, inventor/engineer Brains and his assistant/deputy Tanusha "Kayo" Kyrano.

Thunderbird 0
Also known as the "pork pie". Thunderbird 0 is, in a sense, the first Thunderbird created by Jeff, since he needed a powerful communications center first before International Rescue can help.

Built to monitor radio frequencies, 24/7, for distress signals. Thunderbird 0 is a satellite initially manned by primary space monitor John Tracy and his younger brother Alan on rotation for one-month shifts aboard the station. Brains is a frequent visitor, to assure TB0 keeps in perfect working order; and even Virgil and Gordon have visited on occasion.

Bristling with antennae and a myriad of sophisticated listening devices, TB0 is a world all its own - unique, even amongst the company of its sister Thunderbirds. Its mission is of paramount importance to the very existence of International Rescue.

Its spacious control room, which was shaped like a pie hence the nickname, shows a spectacular vista of the Gaiaterra, through a long observation window of thick shatterproof glass. Elsewhere, along one entire wall, countless radios (covering most frequencies) and speakers enable whoever's on monitor duty to listen to incoming signals in almost every language.

This sensitive equipment (capable of transmitting and receiving both audio and video) detects, amplifies, and (as necessary) translates calls for help - assistance IR, alone, is capable of providing - which are then relayed to IR headquarters on Tracy Island for action.

Although well-shielded and otherwise protected, TB0's main control room is further backed up by a specially-built duplicate control facility should an emergency situation arise. All monitoring functions are automatically transferred; computer systems are independently powered via the adjacent solar energy panels, and all data is duplicated from the primary systems, to assure that TB0 remains in continuous service.

Unfortunately, TB0 had a major flaw. As it was the first satellite made TB0 lacked a rotating section to create artificial gravity, and thus the entire station had no gravity, combined with small storage meant that John had to switch with Alan, who also brings in supplies once a month, to prevent muscle atrophy, thus leaving hours where any distress falls on deaf ears. Leading to the creation of its superior sister, Thunderbird 5.

Today Thunderbird 0 is manned by Shifty and a crew of Nikkes, as their artificial body makes them immune to the long-term detriments of a gravity-less environment, with its role remaining unchanged. As Thunderbird 0 has far superior communications equipment that allows it to coordinate multiple teams at once, especially in the event Thunderbird 5 is out of action or assisting in a mission directly.

Thunderbird 1
International Rescue's rapid-response vehicle, and is usually the first to arrive at the danger zone. Thunderbird 1 is a variable geometry (swing-wing) VTOL rocket plane piloted by Scott Tracy, the eldest of the brothers.

Capable of 15,000 miles per hour, Thunderbird 1 is one of the fastest planes in the world, if not the fastest. The primary role of Thunderbird 1 is often to simply get to the danger zone and scout around so that a rescue operation can be planned before the equipment needed arrives via Thunderbird 2, but it'll often play a supporting role alongside the jolly green giant with its own gear and special abilities, which occasionally makes it the only Thunderbird necessary for the job. Thunderbird can also carry up to three personnel on board, also making it a rapid deployment jet.

With a sharp red nosecone, a cylindrical silver body, and a powerful blue engine, TB1 is built for pure speed and can reach anywhere on Gaiaterra within an hour, evident from the fact it has the most number of rearward thrusters of all Thunderbirds alone. TB1 takes off from Tracy Island vertically, but shifts and stays into horizontal flight shortly after. TB1 has a high-speed mode and a slow/landing speed mode. During the former, which it launches in, the small sweep wings are entirely tucked in, and the cross-shaped bottom is positioned in the manner of a plus sign. When coming into land or simply when flying slower and steadier, the wings extend and the back rotates into an X. The wings must always be extended when landing horizontally since landing legs are located within them. TB1 only lands vertically when returning to Tracy Island.

The interior goes from the nosecone to the wings. The pilot's chair is located at the front (near the nosecone) where the windows are. There is no front-facing windows with the aerodynamic nosecone taking up the entire front. Thunderbird 1 flies almost entirely via instrumentation provided by the forward holographic display. The windows underneath can open up, and the chair can be carried outside via a robotic arm, providing swift entrance and exit. The underside bay doors lead to the rest of the interior, where the ceiling contains a long-ranged electromagnetic cable that can have different attachments at the end such as clips, and ladders allowing swift passenger boarding. Despite being designed as a first responder and scouting craft, it has occasionally been enough to make her the only Thunderbird needed for a mission. It also has a rescue capsule that is used to transport a single individual.

Being the first Thunderbird and built for speed. TB1 is rather bare bones in equipment, equipped with only a grappling hook for rescues. And in times when International Rescue had to fight TB 1 would activate its weapons, four anti-air laser cannons fitted on its wings and a ground-based beam cannon mounted on the nosecone on top of the cockpit entrance. And, if the threat is deemed dangerous, Scott can remove Thunderbird 1s speed governor, allowing it to reach Mach 12, creating a massive sonic boom which he weaponizes by flying low to the ground to create a shockwave powerful enough to wipe out an army and down multiple Kirovs. But, for safety reasons, Scott can't maintain max speed for more than a few seconds.

Thunderbird 2
International Rescue's heavy-equipment transporter. Thunderbird 2 is a large, supersonic, VTOL freight-carrying aircraft piloted by Virgil Tracy, the second oldest.

TB2 is a giant, wide-body, green-colored, somewhat blocky plane with small forward-swept wings, a massive rear spoiler, and large rectangular engine intakes on either side. Despite its bulky appearance and being the slowest of all five flight-capable Thunderbirds, the two rearward engines are powerful enough to allow it to fly at supersonic speeds nonetheless. TB2 is capable of vertical take-off and landing through the use of four large jets tucked underneath the craft's sides, close to the intakes. The VTOL jets can tilt forwards and backwards for slow and steady flights in all directions and are powerful enough to let TB2 lift extremely heavy objects and vehicles, having once picked up TB1 with no apparent difficulty. The wings can fold upwards when not in use, allowing for easier landings. Two means of entrance and exit can be found at the craft's front end; a manually operated hatch on top, and a platform that can be automatically lowered underneath, and both lead straight to the cockpit.

TB2 is designed as a freighter in mind, with the middle of the craft hollowed to carry one of the many modular containers carrying gear for different kinds of rescue missions. These modules are as follows:

Module 1: Module 1 specializes in carrying fire-fighting equipment. It is equipped with a pair of extinguisher nozzles which can be deployed on the underside, and a low-frequency fire suppression system on the topside, which are essentially speakers and subwoofers, thus oddly enabling the fire fighting equipment to play music.

Module 2: The most commonly used Module, which is fitting as it shares the same number as Thunderbird 2. It is a general-use module without any specialization, capable of carrying up to fifteen passengers, making TB2 a dropship for the Rangers in the event they can't teleport, and the Pods, which are two durable chassis that can be outfitted into various kinds of smaller rescue vehicles using a variety of attachments. The attachments are kept in metallic crates stored on the walls of Module 2 and are brought down and attached to the body of the Pod via robotic arms.

Module 3: Home of the large electromagnetic grabs. The grabs are used to lift up and move the largest and heaviest of objects. The tips of the 4 fingers are electromagnetic. A row of seats stored on Module 3 are able to be picked up by the grabs and lowered, in order to collect people.

Module 4: Designed specifically for aquatic rescue missions and carrying Thunderbird 4, which can exit once the door of the Module opens via a metallic slide that extends out in a telescopic manner. Thunderbird 4 is retrieved through the use of a magnetic cable behind the slide that shoots out to hit the rear of the sub and carry it back up. Like Module 2, Module 4 also has bay doors, allowing Thunderbird 4 to be gently lowered down by the magnetic cable. The module is also equipped with the Remote Airbag Pods. It is equipped with a shower room for TB2's occupants, mainly Gordon, to freshen up. It is also capable of carrying any additional Pods that are needed as well when the situation requires it. Like Module 3, it consists of large electromagnetic grabs as well as a Row of Seats to collect people.

Module 5: Module 5 is made specifically for carrying fuel for other vehicles and vessels. A fuel line can be extended when the underside bay doors open, allowing refueling for or pumping out of other vessels and vehicles. As expected, the capacity is very limited. The equipment can also be used to store and supply other liquids such as a concrete sealant. The module, just like modules 3 and 4, also contains seats that can be lowered to collect people.

Module 6: The rarest Module to be used. Module 6 is only ever used in the event International rescue goes into combat. Upon equipping it Thunderbird 2s weapons are unlocked, consisting of two nose-mounted heavy laser cannons, three anti-air flak turrets mounted on top of each engine and the rear, and a MRLS. Module 6 itself is equipped with a bay full of self-replenishing plasma bombs, and a gatling laser and a railgun mounted on its left and right sides. And, if the situation is dire, Virgil can unlock Module 6 itself, activating its generator that supercharges Thunderbird 2, essentially transforming it into a flying fusion of a Leonidas and Centurion Crawler.

Thunderbird 3
Designed for space rescue and maintaining the systems and crew of Thunderbird 5 and Thunderbird 0. Thunderbird 3 is a giant SSTO (Single Stage to Orbit) space rocket piloted by Alan Tracy, the youngest.

Although capable of agile atmospheric flight and handles well in situations where gravity is significant thanks to its powerful thrusters, TB3 lacks wings to generate lift and is primarily designed for space rescue missions, usually only flying straight upwards to space after launching. It can move very freely in space using vernier thrusters built around its whole body to perform delicate maneuvers. The engine array at the base of the rocket includes an incredibly powerful central ion engine for extremely long-distance space travel, and three rocket engines surrounding it. Three grapple arms connect the middle of the ship to the three rocket engines, which can be deployed for various uses. The cavities where the arms sit have nozzles, allowing the engines to fire frontward when the arms are deployed.

TB3 has highly advanced heat and radiation shielding, allowing it to get very close to the sun without suffering a meltdown in its systems. Its ion engines allow travel to other large nearby celestial bodies relatively quickly. The rocket can travel to the sun in a matter of hours and (Jupiter), within a few days; both of which could take months when done conventionally.

TB3 sports a cargo bay above the engines that can carry and assemble one Pod that is specialized for outer space rescue. While the cargo bay is large enough to carry more than a dozen people even with the Pod in it, it is ill-suited to doing so as it has only large bay doors instead of airlocks. The cockpit is located in the upper middle of the rocket's body and it has 4 seats, making it the largest cockpit among all the Thunderbirds barring Thunderbird 2 cargo module. Windows form a ring all around the fuselage, and the cockpit can rotate so that Alan can see all around the outside. This cockpit is home to an airlock exit as well as a Space Surfboard.

Thunderbird 3 is also equipped with a high-powered laser built to drill through/blast apart asteroids stored in its nose cone and three grapple arms, each containing a circular saw and plasma cutter, used for latching onto structures in space such as satellites and debris or conducting space repairs. Usually, the arms are attached to the three booster engines of Thunderbird 3, but when in use, they fold out from the engines and extend forwards. These arms are also used to help Thunderbird 3 dock with Thunderbird 5. The tip of each arm contains one tow cable used for stabilization during landing. In the times International rescue goes to battle both the laser and the arms plasma cutter will have their limiters disengaged, increasing their power that it can melt through even Talon Steel and turn anything organic into ashes. And, if the situation is deemed dangerous, Alan can activate Thunderbird 3 auxiliary generators, further increasing the power of the laser drill and producing enough heat from the engines that any aircraft behind it will burn up, and said thrusters can now be used to obliterate ground forces by flying upwards and directing the plasma generated onto the ground

Thunderbird 4
International Rescue's go-to vehicle for underwater rescue - a yellow mini-submarine, Thunderbird 4 is International Rescue's technologically advanced submarine piloted by Gordon, the second youngest.

TB4 is the smallest Thunderbird of them all and one that is designed to withstand immense deep sea pressures; this helps grant its immense durability and capacity to explore undersea caves, but it also means it is far from convenient enough for the yellow submarine to go to the danger zone by itself, due to limited range, low speed, and complete inability to travel unless submerged underwater. Thunderbird 4 is therefore often airlifted to the danger zone aboard Module 4, one of the six Modules that makes up the center of the supersonic Thunderbird 2. Should the latter vehicle be unavailable, Thunderbird 4 can leave Tracy Island alone for a mission that is close enough.

Thunderbird 4 can be entered via an underside hatch, which leads straight to the little cockpit (designed for Gordon to control, however, it can squish three other people into its small space - standing room only, and a door at the back where rescued people and equipment can be put. Bright lights emit from the very front of the vehicle, allowing Gordon to see in the deepest and darkest of waters. Thunderbird 4 has many small windows on the sides and underneath the cockpit, and even the backdoor has transparent surfaces, further adding to the freedom of exploration. Thunderbird 4 has a flexible fin and two small engines at the back which allow for surprising speed and agility, even though it is still vital for Thunderbird 2 to carry it wherever it needs to go. Where there's Thunderbird 4, there's usually Thunderbird 2. But in recent years, with the Andoran Swan plane and the Syndicate Pluto flying submarine, Thunderbird 4 has been retrofitted with small wings and a modified engine that now allows it to fly like its sisters, though compared to Thunderbirds 1 to 3 it is the slowest, without any reduction to its underwater capabilities.

Thunderbird 4 is equipped with torpedoes located within the side protrusions, which transform into missiles when in the air. They also have homing properties, allowing them to hit home on other machines and vehicles, and two robotic arms that are tucked away on the underside. They swing out when in use, and Gordon controls them directly while looking through the transparent floor to see what he is doing. Both arms have a pincer claw with a built-in plasma cutter, and a "Paralyser", a small cannon that launches an EMP dart to disable equipment. And, once in combat long enough, Gordon would unlock Thunderbird 4 weapons, which are even stronger high-yield plasma torpedos/missiles and the Paralyser now releases a pulse that shut down its surrounding.

Thunderbird 5
International Rescue's monitoring satellite space station, moored in a geostationary orbit 22,400 miles above the Aionysus Ocean, directly above Tracy Island. Thunderbird 5 is manned by John Tracy, the middle of the brothers, EOS, and various support Nikkes.

Thunderbird 5 has two major roles: the first is to monitor the planet for potential disasters and receive distress calls when these arise, and as such, TB5 is equipped to scan the planet's surface in real-time and listen in on radio chatter regardless of language and location.

Though not a vehicle in the conventional sense, TB5 can, like many other satellites and space stations, move under its own power. Thrusters allow TB5 to raise or lower its orbit and then resettle into a geostationary situation behind or ahead of its normal mooring point above Tracy Island, allowing John Tracy to better observe a particular point of Gaiaterra. Smaller RCS jets allow the satellite to alter its attitude or to move to any point above Gaiaterra.

TB5 is, however, typically in a geostationary orbit directly above Tracy Island to facilitate the best contact with International Rescue's headquarters, and thus it primarily acts as a housing for the powerful digital technology necessary for International Rescue to even function as a lifesaving organization.

TB5 has complete access to the Internet, digital archives, and communications and affects machinery remotely. Its sensor arrays are powerful enough to allow the satellite to receive distress calls from as far as (Jupiter). Its surveillance equipment is powerful enough that TB5 can easily monitor and listen in on basically everyone on Gaiaterra, barring military sites. However, John only uses such abilities if the outcome saves lives. As such, TB5's systems are never shown to disrespect day-to-day privacy.

The central structure of TB5 is shaped rather like a microphone. Around what would be the "grill" is a toroidal structure containing most of the station's rooms and facilities. This ring spins around in order to generate artificial gravity, allowing John to remain in space for extended periods, far longer than his stay within Thunderbird 0, without suffering the musculoskeletal degradation that can be caused by extended spaceflight. For unexplained reasons, the ring can rotate at a much faster speed than is needed to generate 1G of gravitational force, allowing it to easily go above 25g.

Though it was made as a surveillance satellite. Thunderbird 5 is equipped with an extremely large amount of point defense laser, short-range missiles, and an energy shield to protect itself, due to the presence of the Voshkod space station and in recent times the Scrin, with enough firepower to stop a small fleet.

In the rare event International Rescue goes into battle often times Thunderbird 5 will follow, its height above Gaiaterra making it impossible for the enemy to attack Thunderbird 5. With John providing powerful surveillance and support powers, such as hacking his opponent's communications, to help his brothers and coordinate attacks, however, Thunderbird 5 lacks any orbital to planetary weapons, barring one which is kept locked due to severely violating laws when used, to provide direct support. However, if the opponent proves to be too dangerous, John can unlock said weapon. A high-powered ion laser cannon that is weaker to the ADI ion cannon but fires much faster, letting Thunderbird 5 lay down orbital bombardments capable of destroying small forces and light structures from anywhere while being untouchable, said cannon can be briefly overloaded to fire a massive beam that cuts through anything in its path.

Thunderbird Shadow
The youngest of the Thunderbirds and also wasn't built with rescue in mind. Thunderbird Shadow (often shortened to Thunderbird S) is a stealth aircraft, used for missions concerning the security of International Rescue and the thwarting of extreme villainy. Thunderbird Shadow is piloted by their chief of security Tanusha "Kayo" Kyrano.

Although considered an official Thunderbird, TBS is not equipped, or often used, for rescue missions like the main five. Instead, TBS is used for bringing criminals who cause disasters to justice (much like Lady Penelope in FAB 1) and for maintaining the security of Tacitus Ranger agents, equipment, and bases.

TBS was designed specifically for stealth capabilities and can fly extremely quietly with incredible agility. Designed and built borrowing designs of combat aircraft, and equipped with vernier nozzles on both the topside and underside of its thrusters, Thunderbird Shadow is the most maneuverable and agile of all the Thunderbirds; fully capable of dog fights despite being a rescue vessel. Its ability to seemingly appear and disappear like a shadow has led to the craft being aptly named "Thunderbird Shadow". Its instruments include a light/optic sensor and multi-purpose launchers. The cockpit is actually a motorbike, and can be lowered from the ship's belly to be dropped off to the ground in situations where aerial pursuit isn't practical while remaining in remote control with the main 'body'. True to its name and dedication to stealth, TBS is equipped with two underside claws instead of conventional landing gear, allowing it to cling to walls and ceilings, or underneath other aircraft. Thunderbird Shadow also carries built-in cloaking technology, allowing it to become completely invisible both to the naked eye and on the radar, and can carry one passenger in it, allowing TBS to conduct stealth deployment.

As an aircraft built for combat. Thunderbird S is the most openly armed Thunderbird. Equipped with a nose-mounted sonic cannon, two autocannons on its side, and an array of air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles on its wings allows it to handle almost anything.

Similar to its sister crafts. Thunderbird Shadows' advance equipment is normally locked, with Kayo only unlocking it when necessary. Said Equipment is a scrambler, which makes Thunderbird S harder to detect while also interfering with enemy equipment around TBS, and a "Glaive" beam, a laser that cuts through all but the thickest armor.