When Eliot hears that a military buddy of his was killed in a suspicious explosion, the trail leads tor the head of a notorious Private Military Contractor firm and a secret meeting of the world's most powerful men.
- Bait the Dog: General Frick is the leader of a fraternal society involved in the military industrial complex that was started by his Confederate ancestor. Despite this, he is Nice to the Waiter, disapproves of Kurlander's self-aggrandizing attitude when telling war stories, and doesn't talk about his own war experiences. However, while Frick disapproves of Kurlander, he'd rather control and profit off of him than expose him.
- Bash Brothers: Paul and Eliot.
- Blatant Lies: Kurlander spends most of his time telling people the story about him holding a bridge against enemy fire, but when he's trying to impress Sophie, he claims he doesn't like to talk about his military past.
- Chekhov's Gag: The frequently urinating member of Orpheus Grove turns out to be the reason the frogs in the area are in danger of extinction — his urine is toxic to their eggs.
- The Cuckoolander Was Right: Maureen Mills is initially depicted as a weirdo who thinks there is a conspiracy behind why frogs in the area are going extinct. As it turns out, the urination from the members of Orpheus Grove is making the environment toxic to their eggs.
- Dirty Coward: Kurlander openly admits that he doesn't need to be brave when he has an army. When said army abandons him, he turns into a sniveling weasel who runs from a fight.
- The Dreaded: Kurlander is visibly terrified when he is informed that Eliot Spencer is after him to avenge the faked death of Dr. Paul.
- Engineered Public Confession:
- Kurlander's tirade in which he openly admits to seeing the men under his command as disposable pawns is broadcast on all their radios. This causes them to quit in disgust.
- Breanna broadcasts Kurlander and Frick's conversation about their corrupt dealings to the police and the media, resulting in them being arrested.
- Everyone Has Standards: Even the other members of Orpheus Grove seem to find Kurlander distasteful. They're annoyed with his repeated war stories and the leader, Lionel Frick, disapproves of his mistreating a female staff member (Sophie).
- Faking the Dead: Eliot’s friend Paul was only pretending to be dead so he could take out Kurlander.
- Martial Medic: Paul was a Combat Medic in the army and opened up a clinic for veterans after retiring. His fighting skills haven't rusted at all in the present.
- Miles Gloriosus: Kurlander falsified the entire story of him heroically holding a bridge against enemy forces. In reality, he froze during battle and several of his men were killed. Paul only went along with the lie because Kurlander agreed to pay for his clinic, but when Kurlander kept getting away with more and more heinous crimes, Paul decided to take him down.
- Villainous Breakdown: Kurlander screams and cries like a child as he is led away by the police.Kurlander: No, no, no, no. You don't understand. I'm a hero. I'm a hero! I have a Silver Star!
- What Are Records?: Maureen Mills, the librarian at the library where Breanna is running Mission Control from, was planning to print out flyers to promote her campaign to save a local endangered frog. Breanna asks her what a flyer is. Later on, Breanna demonstrates that the internet is a much more effective means of spreading the word.
