Based on a remote island in the South Pacific, the mission of International Rescue is simple: save lives, whenever and wherever they are called to do so. No rescue operation is too difficult or too dangerous -- after all, their motto is 'Never give up, at any cost.'

Jeff Tracy, a former astronaut who is now known worldwide as the wealthy and philanthropic head of a vast multinational megacorporation, is the founder and leader of International Rescue.

Jeff's eldest son Scott, a decorated former air force jet pilot, is International Rescue's field commander. Piloting silver rocket-plane Thunderbird One, the organization's reconnaissance craft, Scott is first on the scene to set up the rescue operation. It is his job to liaise with local authorities and figure out the best approach to the situation while waiting for second son Virgil -- as gifted an engineer as he is an artist and musician -- to arrive with the true workhorse of the team, Thunderbird Two. This green giant is the organization's transport plane, ferrying the rescue vehicles and equipment the team will need to accomplish the job.

Most of this equipment is invented and built by International Rescue's resident engineering genius, known affectionately by the family as Brains.

Third son John and fifth son Alan share the space-going duties of the team, splitting their time in alternating tours of duty aboard International Rescue's space station and monitoring satellite, Thunderbird Five. Officially, former race car driver Alan is the chief pilot of Thunderbird Three, the organization's two-hundred-eighty-seven-foot rocket, while John, the astronomer of the team, is in charge of Thunderbird Five.

Fourth son Gordon is the only aquanaut of the group, with a tour of duty in the World Aquanaut Security Patrol (WASP) on his resume. He pilots International Rescue's mini (yellow) submarine, Thunderbird Four, and is also the official backup pilot for Thunderbird Two.

Also resident on Tracy Island are Kyrano, who runs the often chaotic Tracy household with Zen-like smoothness, his daughter Tin-Tin, International Rescue's engineer and right-hand woman to Brains, and last but by no means least, Grandma, Jeff Tracy's mother, who's always ready with a wise comment, a comforting shoulder...and a mean slice of apple pie.

In addition to the island-based members, International Rescue also has agents all around the world. Most prominent of these is England-based Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward and her ex-con chauffeur, butler and all-around partner in 'crime', Aloysius 'Nosey' Parker.

And what would any great drama be without its villain? Perpetually stalking the Tracys from the shadows is International Rescue's arch-enemy -- and Kyrano's estranged half-brother -- Belah Gaat. Gaat, known only to the police forces of the world as the elusive master criminal 'The Hood', plots the demise of the organization from his hideout in a remote Malaysian temple. The Hood is determined that one day the secrets of International Rescue and their fabulous machines will be his, and his alone!

Here, on the Tracy Island Chronicles, you can learn more about the world of International Rescue, as well as reading about their continuing adventures in Thunderbird Two's Hangar.