As the NCIS: LA team begins to investigate the murder of a suspected arms dealer named Rashid Santoso in Griffith Park, they are informed that the weapon used to kill Santoso was also used to kill Master Seargent Edward Shaw in Idaho less than 48 hours later. Hetty orders Kensi and Deeks to look into Santoso's murder here in LA, and dispatches Sam and Callen to Idaho, where they rendezvous with the NCIS: RED team, a mobile unit of agents who are constantly on the move for work. The RED team is led by Special Agent Paris Summerskill and consists of the following: Logistics Officer Danny Gallagher, Tech Assistant Kai Ashe, Special Agent Claire Hawkins, and Special Agent Dave Voss. Once Sam and Callen arrive, they work with the RED team to discover the reason for Shaw's murder. After locating Shaw's cell phone, they discover that he accidentally recorded a video of a man named Robert Spears, whom they suspect to be their killer. Sam, Callen, and the RED team return to LA and track Spears to Burbank airport, where they engage in a firefight with his crew of suspected terrorists. Spears manages to escape in the terminal, but they apprehend another terrorist, Ari Hamal. Later, Hetty informs Paris that Roy Quaid will be joining the RED team, and based on Paris' reaction, it's clear that they have history... (Part 1 of 2 episodes)

Meanwhile, Kensi gives Deeks a special box (previously seen in episode 412, "Kill House") and tells him that it's a belated birthday present. Deeks, however, is skeptical and fears that she might be trying to trick him. He doesn't quite get around to opening the box, but he is very curious as to what's inside.