It's official, the NCIS: Los Angeles team is back! It's only been a few months since the season finale and from the look of things Callen is a little rough for wear. He's undercover from the looks of it as he takes an envelope from a stranger in a car. As he skulks away he is followed by none other then Sam who shoots the man following his partner. As NCIS digs into the attack, they also begin to wonder about Callen's mission wondering what exactly he is up to. As Callen attempts to gather information from the Russians, NCIS officials demand that Callen be picked up before he does something dangerous. While NCIS attempts to track an off the grid Callen, he goes to procure a valuable painting in exchange for information about Arkady. Sam and NCIS are able to track him as he steals it, leading the Russians straight to NCIS agents who apprehend them. While the rest of the team forgives Callen for keeping them in the dark, Hetty will not forgive them so easily. Instead of firing him though, Hetty provides him with a list of Russian mobsters with one rule: if he goes after anyone on the list without consulting her first, he will be fired.