It's four months after the failed coup, and Barry is still behind bars awaiting his fate. While some believe executing him will eliminate him as a problem forever, others believe executing him will only make him a martyr and strengthen the insurgency, those who are demanding his release. The insurgency is also due to Jamal's regime being as repressive as ever. Some in the insurgency are not sure that theirs is a battle that can be won, with Fauzi and Samira on different sides of how best to achieve the Abuddin of which they dream. While the rest of the family is back in the States, Molly remains at the US embassy working on diplomatic options to get Barry released. Through it all, Jamal wants to show the world Abuddin is open for business, he fostering greater ties with the Chinese. He also wants to groom Ahmed to follow in his footsteps, Ahmed who may have thoughts of his own for what he wants his and Nusrat's life to be. Written by Huggo

With Jamal having carried out Barry's assassination, the insurgents believe the upcoming ground breaking ceremony photo op between Jamal and the Chinese ambassador is the perfect opportunity to make a statement by assassinating Jamal. The question becomes how to do it, as most of their names and faces are among those on the government watch list. More may be on the watch list than they realize. Ahmed finds out that there is more to being and more that is expected of him by his father in being the Minister for Energy Development than acting dictatorial. Molly has returned to the United States, and as she deals with trying to bring Barry's dead body back to US, questions what good she did by being in Abuddin while Sammy and Emma were back home without her. Little does she or the rest of the world realize that Jamal, rather than having Barry's blood on his hands, has left him in the middle of the desert for the elements and/or starvation and dehydration to kill him instead. As Barry ... Written by Huggo

To quell the insurgency, Tariq bends Jamal's directive, and orders a chemical attack in a public market, killing one thousand. Jamal has to figure out how to handle the situation. Despite disobeying orders, Tariq's action at least has the intended result of indeed decimating and thus seemingly quelling the insurgency. What Jamal decides as a public measure pleases Leila, who only knows the public face of the story... that is until she is faced with reality herself. With the insurgents, those still alive are indeed abandoning Ihab in droves, blaming him for the massacre. But many do know the reality of the attack itself and continue to remain defiant against the Al-Fayeeds. Barry's rescuers are part of the Al-Yazbeks, a Bedouin family. As Barry is obviously a political prisoner based on his clothing, their first thought is to turn him in for the reward. But there end up being mixed feelings within the family about what to do about their guest, the reward which may be a moot point if ... Written by Huggo

Barry is settling into his new life with the Al-Yazbek family. An issue with Daliyah - debating if she should leave for six months, especially with Ghani not understanding what her absence means, if only for a longer term better life for the family - leads to Barry showing how committed he is to them and what they have done for him without question. At the palace, Amira divulges to Jamal a twenty-five year secret she has been keeping, divulging it now based on circumstance, including both Khaled and Barry no longer being alive. Jamal has to decide what to do with this information, taking into consideration what Leila's reaction would be to the news, Ahmed not seeming to grasp easily or fully his new duties, and knowing now that Ahmed and Nusrat's unborn child will be a boy. Back in the States, Molly and Sammy learn that there is an issue with his trust, which can only be resolved by Sammy going back to Abuddin. Molly has to weigh her resistance to the idea against Sammy soon turning ... Written by Huggo

The army of the Caliphate take control of Tal Jiza, with Daliyah and her colleagues among their hostages, who may be executed to be made an example of everything wrong according to the Caliphate. The Caliphate conscript the men of the town in their march further into Abuddin, most specifically to Ma'an. Barry knows he can't stay in Tal Jiza as he is not only an enemy of the state but also an enemy of the Caliphate. However, he still feels he can't divulge his secrets to Ahmos despite Ahmos' unconditional assistance. In Barry's escape from Tal Jiza, he gets unexpected company. Jamal and Tariq learn of the Caliphate being in Tal Jiza, Ihab being among their ranks, and their plans to go to Ma'an, which places the Chinese nationals working there at risk. Although he leaves the planning of the mission against the Caliphate to Tariq, Jamal can't help but think that Tariq's heavy handedness in the past has led to all the problems they are currently facing. And Molly, Sammy and Jimmy arrive ... Written by Huggo

The Caliphate have taken control of Ma'an. Jamal believes the Chinese have an obligation to provide military support, which is a difficult sell to the Chinese ambassador with many Chinese nationals among the dead. Amira believes she has the answer to Jamal's military problem, that answer which does not sit well with Leila and Ahmed. Barry, who decided to stay in Abuddin instead of run, is able to track down Ahmos in Ma'an. Ahmos is facing his own personal crisis, not only as his two oldest have been co-opted into the Caliphate fighters, but Abu Omar has taken Daliyah for his own. Barry wants to provide his strategic advice, which may not be welcome by those in Ma'an who are wary of any strangers. And Sammy has to answer a difficult question in court, while he asks for help from an unexpected source in helping to find Abdul, who was last known to be in Ma'an. Written by Huggo

Jamal feels his country is spiraling out of control and is desperate for a military victory - no matter the cost. Barry's attempt to rescue Daliyah has unintended consequences. Seeing he's on shaky ground, Rami consults with Amira on how to navigate Jamal's erratic behavior. Written by Anon

Suffering heavy losses, Barry wrestles with the notion that he needs the palace's support to survive. As paranoia builds within Jamal, he questions where Rami's loyalty lies. Stricken by Abdul's death, Sammy plans to give his money to insurgents fighting the Army of the Caliphate. Written by Anon

Increasingly suspicious of those close to him, Jamal believes Khalil is the only person he can trust. Deciding he should no longer hide the truth, Barry reveals to Molly that he's alive. Hoping to lift Nusrat's depression, Ahmed asks Nusrat to run away with him. Skeptical of Khalil's tactical luck, Ihab zeroes in on a traitor in the Caliphate.

Jamal and Colonel Mahmoud set into motion a plan to stop General Rami Said but Amira gets in the way, which leaves the palace in an uproar. Nusrat confides her truths in Ahmed. Leila's control is crumbling so she reaches out to Rami for assistance. Khalil refuses Sammy's help and goes off to fight the Caliphate. Molly visits the palace and calls Barry to tell him what she learned from Leila but the phone call is too late. Daliyah has a heart-to-heart with Sammy, and he is desperate to speak with his father. Written by GB

To save Barry from certain slaughter, Molly decides to tell Jamal that the man known as Khalil is really Barry. The question becomes whether Jamal will believe her and if he does what he will do about it. As Leila was unable to go through with murdering Jamal, Molly may have an ally in her in her own want for what is best for the rest of her family's future. Even if Molly's message about Rami and his troops not coming makes it to Barry, it may be too late for Barry and the Red Hands. One of their remaining hopes may be to play off the internal struggles of Ihab, who has come far from the idealistic young man he once was to one seemingly only seeking revenge for Samira's death seemingly at any cost. Written by Huggo

The government army and the Red Hand brigade have taken back Ma'an from the Caliphate, with Abu Omar having escaped probably out of Abuddin and Ihab Rashid captured. This situation leads to a new reality for all involved compared to before the Ma'an conflict with the Caliphate. Barry, Molly and Sammy, reunited as a family, are all different people, with Barry having to make a difficult goodbye to Daliyah. Although they plan to head back to the US soon, they all now have an emotionally greater stake in the future of Abuddin. Despite Jamal's triumphant official televised address, Barry is unofficially seen as the savior of the Abuddin populace, which may make it more difficult for him to leave. That view is unofficially more official as seen by the return to Abuddin of Lea Exley. Based partly on Leila's manoeuvrings, Ahmed reconsiders leaving Abuddin, hoping that Nusrat will stay by his side. The one person seemingly oblivious to the air of change is Jamal, who has factions working ... Written by Huggo