Covert Affairs - Brink of the Clouds

After learning a former agent of the CIA, and an old associate of Auggie's (Christopher Gorham), is actually responsible for the terrorist attack in Chicago, Annie (Piper Perabo) heads to Azerbaijan with Ryan McQuaid (Nic Bishop) and his team to track down and capture Nathan Mueller (Max Martini) who now goes by the name Faruq Tabrizzi. Their mission is simple - find and extract the target. But when the number of terrorists makes that no longer an option Calder (Hill Harper) decides on plan B which almost costs both Annie and McQuaid their lives.

Back in D.C. Auggie tries to delay Hayley (Amy Jo Johnson) investigation into Annie's medical condition while following up leads to piece together the series of events that led an old friend to be turned by an asset into a terrorist. Eventualy coming face-to-face with the man, Annie is forced to recognize how her own lies have begun chipping away at the trust of those closest to her leaving her isolated as well. Thankfully some quick thinking gets Annie and McQuaid out of range of the drone strike that takes out Mueller's compound, but despite appearances the true hand behind the Chicago bombing might not have died on that mountain top after all.

In terms of ongoing storylines Calder attempts to end his destructive relationship with Maria (Nazneen Contractor) and Auggie's juggling of Hayley and Natasha (Liane Balaban) finally blows up in his face as Natasha leaves but not before Hayley catches the pair together likely ending not only their relationship but her silence concerning Annie's secret. "Brink of the Clouds" continues to push Annie and McQuaid together, and with news of her medical condition breaking next week it will be interesting to see where the CIA's top spy lands should she find herself removed from active duty in the field.