It is the year 5012 and the Milky Way galaxy is under attack. After the Universal War, a war that almost brought about the destruction of every known universe, the planets in the Milky Way banded together to create the Intergalactic Force - an elite fighting team sworn to protect and defend the galaxy. Only the brightest and most promising students are accepted into the Intergalactic Force Academy, and only the very best cadets reach the highest of their ranks and become . . . STAR FIGHTERS! The crew of the Phoenix discover that the space pirate who stole the Heart of Mars is working for none other than the Mezzoka Clan, the most dangerous and slippery gangsters in known space. Worse still, the Heart of Mars represents the final piece of a deadly weapon which the Mezzokans are building to attack the Milky Way - the only galaxy refusing to pay them protection money. Can the Star Fighters find them before the Mezzokans activate the Mezzonator? The Milky Way is depending on them.