Axle Tone served aboard T19 when the ship was in active service, and worked alongside Tech. Sgt. McDuff keeping the ship's engines humming. His tour of duty was canceled after T19 was placed on inactive reserve. Tone returned to his previous life in the Corp of United Toy Janitors (CUTJ) but was frustrated by the monotony, thanklessness, and mortifying boredom of the work-a-day lifestyle.

After a series of plaintive emails to McDuff, who in turn put in a good word with the Commander, Axle was encouraged to rejoin the new T19 crew as Switcher's 2nd.