The Key

Synopsis

Anti-nuclear protestors seize missiles in both superpowers; Mike infiltrates their HQ for the deactivation code.

Episode recap

Anti-nuclear protestors execute the unthinkable twice over: missiles seized in both superpowers simultaneously, a symmetrical hostage-taking of the arms race itself. Mike Rivers goes inside their headquarters after the deactivation code in "The Key" — an infiltration where the cause is sympathetic and the method is apocalyptic. The episode is Season 4's most ideologically loaded hour: the villains want what half the audience wanted, disarmament, and chose the one route guaranteed to discredit it. The crew's task is surgical — retrieve the key, defuse the gesture, and leave the argument standing while dismantling the threat.

Transcript