After having a little accident on the set of his latest monster movie, Hannibal has to spend the night in a hospital. From there he is kidnapped and brought before the mysterious retired general Hunt Stockwell, who proposes a mission to free the passengers of a hijacked plane. One passenger in particular interests them both: Captain Curtis, the one man who could prove the A-Team's innocence in the '72 Hanoi bank job. Hannibal decides to take along the young special effects man who was responsible for landing him in the hospital, 'Dishpan' Frankie Santana. As the five of them leave for Spain, Stockwell designated them the call-numbers 'Empress' 7 to 12.

The A-Team has been convicted for murder and will face a firing squad within 24 hours. Murdock escapes from the V.A. hospital in a straight jacket. He and Frankie Santana force their way aboard General Stockwell's private plane. Stockwell gives them information concerning Barier Island, where the others are being held. He also visits the Team in their cell, proposing they do a specified number of missions for him (not all of them suicidal) in return for a full, presidential pardon.