David Conrad returns to portray Ian Quinn, while J. August Richards' recurring guest character Mike Peterson is revealed to be an adaptation and incarnation of Deathlok.
Wanting to apprehend Quinn after he recently revealed he is allied with the Clairvoyant,[a] agent Phil Coulson's team boards the train carrying the merchandise, posing as ordinary passengers.
Agent Melinda May goes in pursuit of the package, but their communications suddenly cut out and Coulson and Grant Ward are attacked by the security team, who eject them from the train and stun them with a grenade containing dendrotoxin, the chemical found in night-night guns.
Jemma Simmons is stunned by another dendrotoxin grenade, and Skye and Leo Fitz hide her in a luggage carriage before following the security team to Quinn's mansion.
[1] Speaking to the non-linear nature of the episode, LeFranc said she and Judkins wanted to put the team on a mission together "and then see each of their perspectives on it–so that you really get to spend an act with every character, and get just a little more insight into who they are and how they approach the different situations.
"[2]: 130 In January 2014, Marvel revealed that main cast members Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, and Elizabeth Henstridge would star as Phil Coulson, Melinda May, Grant Ward, Skye, Leo Fitz, and Jemma Simmons, respectively.
[1] It was also revealed that the guest cast for the episode would include David Conrad as Ian Quinn, Carlo Rota as Luca Russo, T. J. Ramini as Mancini, Ludwig Manukian as the Conductor, Emily Baldoni as Sofia, and a special cameo appearance by Stan Lee.
[2]: 131 Coulson reveals that Emil Blonsky / Abomination, last seen in The Incredible Hulk where he is portrayed by Tim Roth, is imprisoned in a "cryo-cell" in Alaska.