Episode 6 of "The Kollective" commences with Delia's solitary arrival in Amsterdam, sans Aaron, her attempts to reach him via phone falling on deaf ears. Anxiety gnaws at her as she contemplates Lucas's potential presence at the hospital and Aaron's inexplicable unavailability. Lucas, meanwhile, lies in a sedated slumber, his external wounds the only visible remnants of his ordeal, while internally, he remains coherent and unharmed. Etienne and Ashton keep vigil by his side in the hospital's hushed corridors.
Elsewhere, Aaron trails the thread leading to Kuzmin and Rebin Tuerxon, who have ventured into Amur Oblast, a remote corner of eastern Russia. Who, then, is this enigmatic Rebin Tuerxon? A scientist of rare earth metals, particularly coltan, Rebin possesses a dual expertise in aerospace engineering and telecommunications. His brief stint at NASA was followed by an abrupt disappearance post-resignation. He now holds the title of chief engineer at the clandestine military facility within Yegorovich Manufacturing, where Kuzmin's secret weapon is in the making.
What secrets does the Kollective uncover at Yegorovich Manufacturing? Disguised as Delia's spouse on an adoption mission to Amur Oblast, Aaron embarks on this journey sans Delia, who remains incapacitated by illness. The team extends Aaron support from Lucas's makeshift hospital office. Etienne's investigation uncovers a trail of coltan from Congo, destined for the factory gates. However, the coltan's fate within the factory walls remains shrouded in mystery, prompting Lucas to devise a daring plan: infiltrate the factory's systems with malware. Delia, traveling to Russia for this sole purpose, slips the malicious software into the factory via a parcel delivery service, her mission critical and clandestine.
After an interminable wait, the USB, carrying its insidious payload, is plugged into a factory computer. Data floods into their awaiting devices, revealing the factory's involvement in satellite development. Yet, the why behind these satellites' creation remains an enigma, shrouded in the fog of secrecy and intrigue.
What was Kuzmin actually developing, and what motivated him to undertake such an endeavor? Initially, the members of The Kollective speculated that Kuzmin was working on some form of nuclear weapon. To ascertain the truth, Delia and Aaron embarked on a perilous mission, sneaking into the factory through concealed tunnels. Aaron discreetly transmitted real-time video footage to Lucas and Etienne, hoping to gather crucial intelligence. However, an observant employee grew suspicious of Aaron's actions and reported him to Kuzmin. In a bid to evade capture, Aaron took refuge in an elevator, descending to the main observation room.
Anticipating that Kuzmin would not permit his departure, Aaron found himself face to face with the mastermind behind the mystery project. Kuzmin, revealing the truth under duress, clarified that he was harnessing coltan to energize a colossal jamming system, possessing the capability to induce a digital blackout on an unprecedented scale. His ultimate objective was to target satellites worldwide, shutting down digital cyberspace entirely. Following this digital darkness, Kuzmin intended to exploit a quantum computer to fill the resulting information vacuum with fabricated news, thereby granting the Russians unparalleled control over the narrative and establishing a monopoly on factual information.
The climax of The Kollective's adventure unfolded as follows: With Lucas and Etienne's assistance, Aaron and Delia managed to escape the factory. Unbeknownst to them, the son of the couple harboring them in Russia had surreptitiously followed them and eavesdropped on their conversation near the receiver computer by the factory gate. Boris, recognizing the direction in which his elder brother had perished, hastily informed his father of Aaron and Delia's departure westward. The father strategically positioned his car in the middle of the road, feigning a breakdown. Seizing the opportunity, Delia and Aaron exited the truck and took cover. Subsequently, Ludmilla smuggled them to the airport, concealed in the trunk of her vehicle.
Upon their return to London, The Kollective published their findings online, exposing Kuzmin's grandiose scheme to the world. The Russians' plot violated a long-standing space treaty, prompting the Russian government to disclaim any involvement, insisting that Kuzmin had acted alone. The expose swiftly went viral, catapulting The Kollective into fame.
