it seems they bear the brunt of the damage

bear the brunt of　矢面に立つ

Be fastidious about うるさい　細かい

espionage　スパイ行為

 on a hair trigger　一触即発

逃亡　defect to

he had defected to the Soviet Union

desertion 逃亡 deserter 逃亡者

Far out 斬新　一風変わった