The opening scene of Episode 1 of Special Ops: Lioness Season 2 unfolds with a chilling sequence where masked assailants storm a residence, brutally murdering a father and his son before abducting the mother in the dead of night. The following morning, Joe attempts to whip up a hearty breakfast for her family, but disaster strikes as she inadvertently burns the pancake, earning playful jibes from her husband and daughters about her culinary prowess. In a bid to salvage the meal, Neal rescues the situation by whisking the family off to a local waffle house, where they savor their pancakes with glee. Yet, Joe's thoughts remain elsewhere, preoccupied by the stunning news of Congresswoman Hernandez's kidnapping.
It transpires that Hernandez had been championing legislation that would authorize the deployment of US military forces within the country's borders, a move that loomed as an additional challenge to the burgeoning illegal immigration crisis. Media reports suggest that a powerful cartel has seized Hernandez, turning the situation into a high-stakes drama.
Switching focus back to Hernandez's residence, the area is awash with police activity. Agent Kyle arrives on the scene and discovers that Hernandez had a tracker embedded on her person. The tracker reveals her location – a house in Ojinaga, Mexico. Kyle promptly informs his superior of the latest developments. Meanwhile, Kaitlyn receives a summons to the White House. Her spouse advises her to scrutinize Mexico's exports, particularly oil, hinting that the cartel couldn't have orchestrated such an attack alone.
At the White House, Kaitlyn engages in a discussion with Byron, who has already assembled Kyle and his team for the rescue mission. He briefs the President and his advisors on the evolving scenario, with a minor wrinkle – whether to conduct the rescue operation discreetly or create a spectacle. Byron speculates that China might be behind the attack, aiming to provoke the US into making a bold move on Mexican soil while rescuing Hernandez. This could serve as a pretext for China to invade Taiwan.
Joe interrupts the meeting, tasked with selecting a new asset. She requests three months but is granted only three weeks, given the looming elections and the President's desire for political victories. Additionally, Joe is asked to gather intelligence on a local cartel boss, a request she hesitates to accept since it falls outside her purview. Kaitlyn steps in, pledging to handle the assignment.
Joe is less than thrilled to be paired with the Grey team, but Byron and Kaitlyn assure her that they will smooth over any wrinkles. Byron volunteers to tackle any other issues that crop up. Kaitlyn assigns Joe the task of assembling her team. Later, Joe phones Neal, informing him of her extended absence. Though she worries about the mission's outcome, she cannot disclose specifics to Neal. After ending the call, she meets with the extraction team led by Cody, swiftly preparing for their journey into Mexico.
Upon arriving in Mexico, they employed the tracker to pinpoint Hernandez's location and track her down. She was already on the run, being whisked deeper into the country's heart by the cartel. The team intercepted the cartel's vehicle, sparking an intense firefight that echoed through the surroundings. With the Congresswoman safely secured, they made haste towards the extraction point, but the cartel and local police were hot on their trail. Surveillance drones hovered above, and a convoy of at least six to ten cars tailed them relentlessly. Kyle found himself at a loss, without a clear Plan B to deviate from their original strategy. Another fierce gun battle erupted as they confronted the pursuing vehicles, but they managed to outgun their adversaries.
To flee the country, the team was advised to take a dirt road leading to the river that marked the border. Along the way, Mexican military vehicles began shadowing them, prompting Joe to request air support. As they plunged into the river, bullets rained down from the military cars. Fortunately, air support arrived in the nick of time to reinforce them. The team abandoned their car swiftly but suffered the loss of one of their comrades. They swam across the border, each member contemplating how perilously close they had come to meeting their fate.
Later, Neal caught the news and witnessed the rescue of the Congresswoman. Despite the soldiers' faces being obscured, he recognized his wife among them. He resolved to focus on preparing dinner, but Kate remained glued to the screen.
Back at the riverbank, the Congresswoman urged Joe to administer vigilante justice. She then spoke with Cody about Dean's demise and confronted Kyle for leading them into an operation without a fallback plan. Kyle reminded her that death was a risk they had willingly accepted as part of their duty. He also wondered if she had lost her edge after being away from the field for some time. Joe called her family, struggling to conceal his tears as he spoke to his daughters.
