IRINA DEREVKO
A Higher Echelon – Episode 11
The Trust Element

Another episode skipped, so two columns this week, starting with this one, which features Irina as the one person who probably can save the CIA’s bacon. Echelon, our information satellite, which Sydney says to Will, can hear two million conversations an hour, is under attack by SD-6.

The story also concerns Marshall Flinkman, who is in the hands of Suit and Glasses, the oriental man, who tortured Sydney in the opening episode of the first season. Who is he working for? Although not really discussed, we assume Gerard Cuvee is his employer at this moment. Marshall is unable to take torture and agrees to help them re-construct the doorway into Echelon. He has to trust that SD-6 will send someone to save him. Was he thinking Arvin Sloane?

Sydney finds out the Marshall is missing and that SD-6 has recovered the information Marshall emailed. It looks like Arvin Sloane will get access, but it is going to take him time. The part of the data was not transmitted. Sydney is being sent with Dixon to Ho Chi Minh City to recover the data. Jack learns that Marshall is being hung to out to dry by Sloane. Too bad for Marshall…as Jack says of Sloane’s attitude, “it was as if someone had overcooked his steak.”

In order to stop SD-6 from getting into Echelon, the CIA must find an access point. Sydney is surprised when she learns Jack had talked with Irina. Mom talked with Dad and Sydney wasn’t there!! Something’s changed in Mom and Dad’s strained relationship. However, Irina told Jack she had to have full access without restrictions if she was going to help the CIA find the overlapping point where Cuvee had breached the system. Of course, Kendall wouldn’t trust her. She might be trying to set something up with her organization. This was especially true since access to computers and telecommunications was prohibited by her immunity agreement. She warns them the technicians he assigns will find it is like quicksand.

Now there is more trouble brewing for Jack. Ariana Kane has taken over his computer to check his messages. (She doesn’t trust him, says he’s hiding something.) He is under suspicion big time. He goes to the CIA and tells them what he needs to get out of her clutches. Sydney, in the meantime, with Dixon has obtained the missing data packets. Sloane is excited as he congratulates them on a job well done.

Back at the CIA, Sydney, Vaughn and Jack are told by Kendall the bosses in Washington are not pleased. As he speaks, the computers go down. The chief technician told him he had to shut down the system. The Russians had detected he was mapping their network and had spit out a virus called quicksand. Sydney reminds Kendall her mother had predicted this would happen and that she had used the word “quicksand.” Kendall thinks she might have set it up.

“Why keep her if you don’t use her,” says Sydney and Jack agree that she might be an asset. (At this point, Sydney should have asked how she could have done it given she was in a cell.)

Sydney goes to see her mother, telling her, “They found it. Quicksand.”
Irina says, “I told your father my terms. Full access to the network, no restrictions.”
“Dad fought for you on this. Don’t make him regret it.”
Irina smiles.

I think it is probable that we were given a hint about Irina’s past and current status in Russia. If she had been only a crime cartel boss, not with the KGB (now called SVR), how would she know about SWARM? How would she know that they would get a virus? Computers keep evolving and strategies have to be developed constantly for security reasons. If she were not connected somehow with SVR, there would be no way for her to know about it. There are more questions about her than we have answers. Do we trust our writers to give them to us?

It’s also interesting to note that the smile seemed to be one of triumph. Gotcha! She thinks. Of course, we would like her to be good, but somehow, I felt that she up to no good. I think right at this moment she is being trusted more than she should be. This woman is probably going to do something. Jack’s trust of her is wrong. No matter how much he wants to believe her, he shouldn’t. However, at this point, who knows what’s in Jack’s mind.

She is brought into the op center, wearing handcuffs, with two marshals accompanying her. The staff stares at her. She was a KGB agent who allegedly killed 12 of their fellow agents. She had also been married to Jack Bristow and is Sydney’s mother. There is big drama here, especially as she looks at them without concern or perhaps not caring at all. She turns; thrusting her wrists out and Kendall gives the okay to remove the cuffs. She sits at the computer stating she needs an access code. Kendall, still stubbornly feeling she shouldn’t be trusted, thinks she might be signaling her organization but gives in and let’s her type.

Meanwhile SD-6 is getting closer to Echelon. Ariana Kane tells Sloane Jack’s gun has brain matter in the barrel of the gun. They’re checking to see if it fits Emily’s DNA. Marshall is busy at the computer with Suit and Glasses. Dixon learns someone has entered SD-6’s computer server and caused a problem. He decides it was Marshall. He gets Sloane to authorize Sydney and himself to go and rescue him. Sloane agrees.

Back at CIA headquarters, one of the funniest scenes takes place as Irina sits at the computer working. She tells Kendall she has to find the Swarm access points and see if any of them overlap.
Then she asks, “I’d like a coffee please.”
Kendall looks at Vaughn, who says, “Cream or sugar?”
Irina turns and looks at him. Vaughn says, “Black.”
“Thank you.”

Did you wonder at Vaughn’s thoughts at that moment? This woman, while working for the KGB, killed his father. Of course, Irina didn’t ask him. Nevertheless, even second hand, I would have some thoughts about poisoning the coffee. However, we know by now that Vaughn is a moralist and wouldn’t at this moment jeopardize his CIA status and relationship with Sydney. He trusts that time will prove Irina’s not to be trusted.

Ariana Kane is confronting Jack. She demands his SIM card from his cell phone. He knows it’s in the CIA van parked nearby and waits for it to be returned. However, the SIM card is the one belonging to Vaughn, whose fellow agent used a date stamp to make it seem like Jack’s. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work and Jack runs. He sits in the van facing Vaughn who stares at him knowing now who killed Hadlaki. Jack makes hard decisions. He was protecting Sydney as well as himself. We certainly know Irina would make the same without a second thought.

In Mexico City Dixon and Sydney, rescue Marshall who in turn rescues Sydney with his high glide tactical parachute compressed into his jacket. His trust in his friends of SD-6 has been proven.

Irina still busy at the computer hasn’t found the overlapped access points. She tells Kendall if she doesn’t find them, she can’t help. Finally, the lights on the screen blink and she states quietly, “The overlapping access points. As promised.” She gets up, “Close the access points and SD-6 will be shut out.” She walks back to her cell, her guards following.

That evening Jack accosts Sloane in his home. He tells him he did not kill Emily. He is trusting in their 30-year friendship to get him, Sloane, not only to believe him, but also to help. He gives Sloane a list and tells him to check on these possible suspects. He leaves. Sloane picks up the phone and calls Ariana to report the conversation.

As I pointed out, there was a lot of trust going on in this episode. It seems to be a prevailing theme in Alias and certainly is played out in many ways. Only time will tell us who to trust and who to not.
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:r
olleyes:Lenafan,
See you tomorrow
wottamom

:rolleyes: Now the smilie I got did not look like this. :rolleyes:
Anyway, I take it you liked my column?
B)

I want to know why they think they can trust her so much? They are the CIA for crying out load! They aren't supposed to trust anyone, let alone Russians, and lets forget about people they consider terrorists! (I don't think she's a terrorist myself, and when they say it, it makes me cringe. What terrorist activities was she involved in? Oh well US 'intelligence' seems to think everyone is a terrorist :rolleyes:)

Can you even pretend to imagine bringing your father's killer coffee? She was a little unfeeling right there, Vaughn must have wanted to strangle her!!

Great column! Love it to pieces!