Episode 7 of *Invasion* Season 3 opens with the group hurtling through the treacherous Dead Zone, their aircraft straining as it surges toward the looming Mothership. However, fate intervenes as their fuel reserves dwindle to nothing, forcing a harrowing crash-landing. Miraculously, everyone emerges relatively unscathed, but their ordeal is far from over. Now, they must press onward on foot, all while keeping a vigilant eye on Joel to prevent him from causing any trouble or attempting to flee.
Their journey leads them to Outpost 17, a once-fortified military compound now reduced to an eerie silence. The Dead Zone containment wall lies shattered, a grim testament to some violent struggle or perhaps a mass psychosis, given the gruesome sight of bodies strewn haphazardly across the landscape. Nikhil, ever cautious, believes Trevante should take charge, doubting Tucker's capability to lead in such dire circumstances. Trevante remains silent, his thoughts unreadable, while Aneesha and Clark find themselves confined alongside Joel. Joel, now fully indoctrinated into the cult, fervently believes the aliens are ushering in an era of ascension and redemption.
As they cautiously proceed, a lone survivor staggers into the base, his presence fleeting yet ominous. Trevante watches, helpless, as the man plunges a blade into his own neck. Clad in a bodycam, the soldier inadvertently leaves behind a crucial piece of evidence. Trevante retrieves the device, eager to unravel the mystery.
Inside, the group gathers to view the chilling footage. It becomes painfully clear that the soldiers had turned on each other in a frenzy of violence. The same sinister pattern seems to be repeating itself within the confines of Outpost 17. Mitsuki, consumed by a need to understand, pours over the footage repeatedly, her eyes trained for any subtle clue. Eventually, she spots it—a strange, shadowy silhouette cast on the ceiling of the tent. It appears they are up against aliens capable of manipulating human emotions.
Determined to turn the tide, Trevante takes a bold step, releasing Aneesha and Clark from their cell and ushering them into the main quarters. The soldiers, wary but weary, begrudgingly accept his decision, especially as Trevante unveils their latest plan. They intend to construct a makeshift EMP device, a desperate gamble to sever the Hunter-killers from their hive mind and reclaim a semblance of control.
While these events unfold, Verna and her group are reunited with Barnes, who has made his home near the periphery of the treacherous Dead Zone. Their mission is clear: rescue Joel. To aid in their quest, Carolann serves as their eyes and ears within the outpost, relaying vital intelligence about the boy's whereabouts.
Meanwhile, Trev and Tucker set out on a mission of their own, driven by Jamila's belief that a functional antenna lies within reach, one that could bridge the gap between them and home. But as Carolann catches sight of the approaching men, she seizes the radio and makes a desperate dash for freedom, only to meet a tragic end in an explosion that rocks the base's exterior. It becomes apparent that the area outside is riddled with landmines, and it's nothing short of a miracle that none of the men triggered them.
Inside the base, chaos reigns as an alien signal pulsates through the corridors, driving everyone to the brink of madness and inciting violent clashes. Mitsuki, however, remains unaffected, her mind shielded by the signal disruptor strapped to her back. She swiftly shuts off the source of the sound—the bodycam footage she had previously isolated—and as if by magic, sanity returns to the room, and the soldiers snap back to reality.
Yet, Mitsuki chooses to keep her secret, and the soldiers, now suspicious, begin to view her with growing distrust, convinced she might be an alien in disguise. Her frustration mounts as Nikhil remains silent, leaving her to fend for herself. Nevertheless, Mitsuki might just hold the key to unraveling the mysteries that shroud them.
Clark, ever the strategist, sees opportunity in the midst of danger. Examining the papers and diagrams scattered across the desk, he discovers a secondary, long-abandoned path to the base, one that could significantly cut down their travel time.
Aneesha watches Clark in action, recognizing the innate leader within him. She understands that the call to lead is an integral part of who he is, a force that can never truly be extinguished no matter how hard he tries to turn away from it.
Clark reassures Aneesha that this perilous journey is their only hope of reuniting with their children. But the path ahead is fraught with peril, especially as Mitsuki, clutching the EMP device, ventures alone into the heart of the Dead Zone. Yet, she is not truly alone on this harrowing journey...
