EPISODE CONTEXT

Despite being labeled Episode 1, 'Mission 2' is chronologically positioned between Episodes 12 and 13, meaning it functions as a narrative in medias res — dropping viewers into a critical moment before the season rewinds to provide context. Nothing directly precedes it within the show's runtime, but what follows is 'Quantum Barrier,' which shifts the timeline back two months to lay the groundwork for everything seen here. This structure is intentional, designed to front-load intrigue and foreshadowing before the slower, contextual build of the remaining episodes.