No one in the Asylum is safe in Episode 6 of Deep Insanity, where a botched operation threatens the future of the Sleeper Squad.
Commander Vera Rustamova and the Sleeper Squad under her direction are finally ready for the assassination operation on Exile El-Cee, with success relying on rookie Daniel Shigure’s ability to take the shot. Squad leader Leslie Blanc gives Vera a good luck charm before the expedition, an odd act of affection from the so far cold commander. Leaving the charm behind was a huge error, given the outcome of the operation in Episode 6.
It is unknown to Larry Jackson and Reika Kobato, Daniel’s on-the-field partners, why they entered an Exile settlement in the first place. Initially, Deep Insanity depicted Exiles as nomadic humans living in small oases, but they have now evolved into more hideous forms. In addition, it is shown that Exiles live in towns, have organised religion, weapons, historical treasures, and castes of society that are comparable to those on the surface of the planet. Deep Insanity’s investigation and exploitation of Asylum is clearly a colonial problem, yet there is no debate of ethics. Leslie, Larry, and Reika disguise themselves as servants to gain entry to an Exile meeting, while Daniel takes up position as a sniper.
As soon as Daniel found out who his target was, he was unsure whether or not he could bring himself to kill El-Cee. Whether or not he chooses to support the team he’s spent the first half of the show fighting for his life with, he’ll have to decide if he’s willing to jeopardise his own life in order to save them. Because of Hayden’s unexpected arrival, Daniel does not have to make that particular decision.
Hayden and Nadia have been a persistent menace to the Sleeper Squad since their arrival in Deep Insanity. An epic battle pitting Hayden and Leslie against each other involves armour, precious pottery, and some of the series’ best animation to date. It is evident that this is not a case of star-crossed ex-lovers that will rehabilitate Hayden, as could have been expected when he was initially introduced. Rather of deciding whether or not to kill El-Cee or not, Daniel shoots Hayden in order to preserve Leslie’s life. Sleeper Squad members deem it a failure after Hayden backs out of the mission.
However, the absence of a good luck charm is still a factor. A beast from Asylum attacks the group as they flee, but Leslie manages to divert its attention away from the others. Leslie and Hayden are shot out of the sky by Hayden, who sends them plummeting into the Asylum depths while the Sleepers look on in horror. Not only was the assassination a failure, but Hayden was able to infiltrate Asylum and kill Leslie, a dedicated squad leader and Vera’s staunchest ally.
The Sleeper Squad fans have come to know and love has been shattered by this loss, and what they will do next is a complete mystery. A new chapter in Deep Insanity has begun with the death of Leslie, and each member of the team must now rise to the occasion.
