Each Storm Force unit (8 total) acts independently, operating primarily from a large twin-hulled submarine.

As the series opens, a new elite unit is formed called Storm Force 9, which is assigned a special mission; code-named "Firestorm."

Early in the series, the Firestorm team discover Black Orchid is secretly a front for a worldwide invasion of space aliens who can disguise themselves as humans.

This submarine features a detachable jet aircraft called the Tornado, making it similar to SkyDiver from Gerry Anderson's 1970-71 series UFO.

[3] Operation Firestorm is now the codename for the defeat of Black Orchid; Sam Scott, Nagisa Kisaragi, Drew McAllister and Laura Hope remain.