Lioness Episode 16: The Compass Points Home

A covert mission to stop two Chinese scientists in Iran turns into a chaotic rescue operation when Cruz and Josephina’s helicopter is shot down, leaving the team to fight off Iranian forces until American reinforcements arrive. In parallel, Kaitlyn and Byron pressure Pablo Carrillo in San Jose to give up control of his cartel to protect U.S. interests and his family.

Joe’s team is briefed that Iranian forces are heavily positioned near the target area, so the operation is treated as extremely dangerous from the start. Joe and the Quick Reaction Force move toward the site while Cody and Cody J. watch the border area and confirm the scientists are in the convoy. Once the convoy begins leaving the outpost, Cruz and Josephina are given the order to strike, and they destroy the convoy and kill the scientists, but their helicopter is hit during the attack and crashes with both women still inside.

After the crash, Joe and the QRF rush to the downed helicopter to extract them, but they are soon surrounded by Iranian soldiers attacking from multiple directions. The team fights back under heavy fire, and several members are wounded during the engagement, including Bobby, Two Cups, and Tucker. The situation becomes so desperate that the team is close to being overrun before outside support finally arrives and helps secure the area.

While the Iran operation is unfolding, Kaitlyn and Byron arrive in San Jose and confront Pablo Carrillo, who is being held under detention by Kyle and Tracer. Byron tells Pablo that his bank accounts have been frozen, totaling $372 million, and explains that Los Tigres Cartel has helped enemy agents move into the United States. Pablo initially thinks the CIA has come to kill him, but Kaitlyn tells him that his brother Alvaro is the real threat. The episode ends that thread with Pablo being pressured into choosing whether to side with them, with the implication that the CIA wants a trustworthy leader inside the cartel.