Motherland: Fort Salem

Previously on Motherland:

They're gonna tell you horrible things about me.

- I love you. - She told you what you needed to hear.

- Madam President. - You are bound by rule of law

to the will of the American people.

The Spree have two trucks full of mines.

We are going to take them out.

- They have hostages. - The mission hasn't changed.

Now!

The Spree chose to execute the hostages.

- They didn't wanna die. - So now we must rebuild

and end the Spree, once and for all.

Why are your people under siege?

Many governments want what we have.

Teach me your songs to make the world a better place.

Can you imagine what the military could achieve with this power?

Yes. Unfortunately, I can.

- Alder lied. - Lower your voice.

How do you just lie to the world like that?

- Everyone lies, Tal. - Just like that,

- to millions of people? - War is cruel.

That's all you have to say? War is cruel.

There's always collateral damage, Tal.

It's ugly, but that's part of being a soldier.

I can still feel what those hostages were feeling,

knowing they were gonna die.

And then Libba...

And we all have to remember that day for the rest of our lives.

We've got your back, Tal.

I don't think this kind of thing gets better.

- We were used. - Tally.

No.

That's exactly what happened.

We were used, and Libba paid the ultimate price.

Alder should never have pulled you into that.

We did the best we could under the circumstances.

You behaved with honor and bravery from what I've heard.

I'm extremely proud of you.

Thank you.

You will be expected to give Libba's eulogy.

- It's a tradition. - Okay.

You're the only other High Atlantic at our level

in your company, and it's only proper...

Mom, I said okay.

Okay. Excellent.

I'll help you with the speech.

General, I have new intel on the Tarim.

There's something I'd like to show you.

You first. Go.

Recon just located 15 refugees in the Altai mountains,

all with their vocal cords removed.

In the same manner that my family was murdered.

How did the Spree find them before we did?

- What if it's not the Spree? - Who else could it be?

They have yet to claim responsibility for the attacks on my family,

which is unusual.

I borrowed this from Memorial Hall

when I was working on the victims of the Bellweather attack.

The Camarilla, really?

My mother used to tell me the Camarilla would steal my voice away while I was asleep

if I didn't sing my Seeds before bed.

They very much wanted my voice in here too.

- But I got away. - They were extremely meticulous.

I wanted to see if the methods were the same.

Aping our ancient tormentors is a new thrill for the Spree, nothing more.

Their methods were identical.

That kind of hatred no longer festers in the world.

I rooted out the last remaining Camarilla over 200 years ago.

Are we that desperate for ideas? We have a very real enemy in front of us.

We do not need an imaginary one.

How many of the Tarim remain?

Based on our intelligence, less than ten.

They are the priority right now. We need to move.

It's a powder keg over there. If Wade finds out...

I can handle President Wade.

You are dismissed.

Do you want some more tea?

- Tal. - Hm? No, I'm fine.

- You're not fine, Tal. - I guess I'm not that fine then.

What we did with those people,

that's not why I chose to come here.

I came to do some good.

- We have to do something. - Why do we have to do something?

Because we were involved in something deeply unjust.

- And Alder's to blame. - Yeah, but who do we tell, Tally?

Who do we trust? Anacostia's too close to Alder.

What about your mom?

She'll eat us alive for not observing chain of command.

Maybe this is bigger than chain of command.

This isn't going to go away!

Tal, I hear you, and I don't disagree,

okay, but you don't know my mother.

Please, Abigail.

I can't hold on to any more secrets.

- No more secrets. - Okay.

- - Excuse us.

I have terrible news.

I'm sorry to say that more of your people have been murdered.

You may stop. We already know.

I intend to intervene immediately.

I plan to appeal to the president.

That will not be necessary.

They will be wiped out soon. This is a humanitarian crisis.

Then... it will be our end.

- Think about what she is offering. - This risk is too great.

What risk could be worse than the annihilation of our...

You know what would happen if our songs fell into the hands

of governments and armies. There would be no more world to fight over.

What I am offering you is the preservation of your people.

At what price, General Alder?

How arrogant you are.

Watch yourself.

Our commitment to peace is nonnegotiable.

You're alive because of me.

Not you, exactly.

Ladies, I am a very busy woman.

We have some intelligence that would interest you.

- Alder lied about the hostages. - Tell me more.

I saw hostages in that second truck.

Yes, the Spree chose to execute their hostages.

I'm sorry you had to see that.

There are rules of engagement in war,

but the Spree have no regard for such things.

- Now, If you don't mind... - We executed them.

I told Anacostia that they were in the truck.

She relayed intel to Alder, who ordered the strike anyway.

Collateral damage is always a part of war.

And make no mistake, we are at war with the Spree.

You've been through a lot.

I would focus your energies on finishing strong before graduation.

The base has been infiltrated.

- By whom? - The Spree.

- Scylla. - Alder has her in custody on base.

- At Fort Salem? - Correct. Somewhere in the Necro facility.

They're interrogating her. That's how they found out about Baylord Auto.

Ladies, you are dismissed.

Do you ever miss it?

Sometimes.

Eating is overrated.

I want to talk to you about Scylla.

Let's get her off base,

now that we got what we needed from her.

I think she may still be of use.

In what way? Why are you still on this?

We can bring her around.

Every day we keep her, we risk her escape,

and Goddess knows what else. She forfeited her rights

when she became an agent for The End.

What if we can turn her against the Spree?

Send her back to them to be our eyes.

Not with a will like hers.

- How can you be so sure? -

Centuries of experience.

Do you have a problem with this?

No. No, not in the least.

Good.

She should be in prison.

Arrange transport to our facility on Saint Dominique.

Understood.

She died with honor.

You got this.

First, I would like to extend my condolences to the Swythe family.

Service, duty, honor, bravery.

These were more than just words to Libba.

She answered the highest calling...

I'm sorry. I can't...

Elizabeth Kane Swythe

was the girl I hated most in the world.

And now she's gone.

Hating Swythes is mother's milk to a Bellweather.

Some families sail. Others ride.

Bellweathers...

...hate Swythes who hate Bellweathers,

going back and back to a time before we were even America.

And for what?

For tradition.

For competition. Well, I fell right in.

Lock step. I pulled her hair.

Made her eat a piece of a dead pigeon.

I took her men, ate them whole, and spit them out at her feet.

I called her names so foul that they could wake the dead.

And now...

...this terrible now,

she's gone.

And there's one less witch in the world.

And here we are, alive to fight another day.

Libba Swythe.

You were the stone that sharpened my blade.

The storm on my sunny day.

For those things, I am grateful.

May the Goddess bless you.

May the Goddess bless this country you served so well.

You did good.

We're proud of you, Bells.

You guys, stop.

You're a leader.

You're a natural-born leader,

and I would follow you anywhere.

You're a warrior queen.

You're a priestess of ancient truth.