24

Previously on 24.

I'm aware that your generals are pushing you toward a military response.

Until you have the component, I have no choice but to continue on our present path.

The man who has the component is no longer working with the Chinese.

He's offered to trade it back to us, and I've authorized the exchange.

Phillip Bauer is a sociopath.

We can't trust that he'll give us that component whether we give him the boy or not.

What are you asking me to do?

Whatever it takes to stop the exchange.

It won't be long before they figure out how I was able to locate Jack.

Well, they already have. They're probably on their way to arrest me.

They're here.

Send the kid down now.

Show the subcircuit board first.

I need to verify it.

- -

There they are. They've got Josh.

I don't have a clear shot without putting Josh at risk!

Get down!

I want you to get me the names and locations...

of every offshore oil platform within a 10-mile radius.

My father didn't pick this location at random.

Morris, no luck tracing the oil leases through the C.N.C. servers.

- Are you okay? - Yeah, I'm fine.

Chloe. Chloe? Chloe. Darling.

Can someone please help me?

Darling? Darling? Can you hear me?

Can someone please help me?

The following takes place between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Joshua.

I don't wanna be here with you.

We're not staying here! We're leaving! I don't wanna go with you!

Look, Josh, I don't expect you to understand everything, not now anyway.

Someday you will, and you'll thank me for it.

In the meantime, you'll do as you're told. Is that clear?

Good.

The submarine is on schedule. How soon before they pick us up?

Thirty minutes.

Up by the road!

Her vitals are strong. She's in no immediate danger.

Then why did she collapse?

Dehydration, exhaustion... She hasn't slept in 36 hours.

He said I'm fine, Morris. It's not a big deal.

You should be at your workstation.

No, I should be right here with you.

You should be checking the E.P.A. database...

to see what oil platforms are owned by Phillip Bauer. - Other people can do that.

If you really wanna make me feel better, then go find Phillip Bauer.

Are you sure you're all right?

Okay, then.

Morris, is Chloe all right?

The doctor's still running some tests, but he says she's gonna be fine.

Jack was right about his father.

One of his companies owns a federal lease on an oil platform six miles off shore.

That's where Phillip Bauer's keeping the boy?

- The platform's been decommissioned. - Okay, give me the wheel, Nadia.

Let's try a thermal scan,

see if we can pick up any signs of life.

That's awfully crowded for a decommissioned platform.

Can you back-time the satellite imagery a few minutes?

Okay, there. That must be Josh Bauer arriving.

That would be 20 minutes after he was taken.

The timing works. Send a copy to my screen...

and forward it to the White House. Will do.

Get me Tom Lennox, please.

Right away.

Dr. Hastings here.

This is Morris O'Brian. Have, uh, Chloe O'Brian's test results come in yet?

You just left here a few minutes ago, Mr. O'Brian.

We're still running those tests.

Well, when do you expect the results? Soon.

Can you call me when you get them?

I'm afraid I can't release that information,

not without Ms. O'Brian's permission. I'm her husband.

Ex-husband. I'm sorry, but I can only share information with Ms. O'Brian's family.

Fine.

And reports indicate the Russians are setting up an offensive position.

Right, thank you.

Meaning they could attack our base at a moment's notice. - That's correct, sir.

Sir, that was C.T.U. They've just located Phillip Bauer and a dozen or so confederates...

on an oil-drilling platform six miles off the coast of Los Angeles.

He has the subcircuit board? We're assuming so.

We'll pass this on to Suvarov. Maybe it'll buy us some more time.

Meanwhile, I want an assault team dispatched to that oil rig.

- Mr. Vice President, if I may? - Go ahead, Ethan.

If the platform is well defended, an assault team might run into trouble.

I recommend an air attack.

Two navy F-18s could obliterate that platform and everyone on it.

What about the subcircuit board?

If it's not destroyed in the attack, it'll sink into the ocean.

The salt water will render it useless in minutes.

Tom?

Sir, we think Phillip Bauer's grandson is on that same platform.

Now, he might well survive a surgical strike by, uh, an assault team,

but there's no way he's gonna live through this proposed aerial attack.

You know, we are talking about an innocent 16-year-old boy here.

None of us like this any more than you do,

but if the Russians attack our base, a lot of innocent young men are gonna die.

The truth is, an air strike would be the most effective from a political point of view.

It'll show the Russians... that we're sparing no effort to destroy the subcircuit board.

- Send the F-18s immediately. - Yes, sir, Mr. Vice President.

You're gonna be all right, Mike. You're gonna make it.

- Jack, I'm sorry. - You were following your orders.

Get the kid. Get the kid, Jack. I will.

Did you find my father?

Yes, we believe that he's on a decommissioned oil platform six miles off shore.

Were you able to confirm that Josh is with him?

Thermal scan shows three people arriving on the platform 20 minutes after Josh was taken,

so it's highly likely he was one of them.

Nadia, I wanna lead the assault team.

There's not gonna be an assault team, Jack. What are you talking about?

I just got notification that the White House has ordered an air strike by navy F-18s.

The vice president thinks an assault team will take too long.

I couldn't call those jets back if I tried.

- When is it gonna happen? - Less than 30 minutes.

I need you and Bill to come back to C.T.U. on Aerial 1 for an immediate debrief.

Jack?

Fine.

What's wrong?

C.T.U. located my father and Josh on one of the offshore oil platforms.

There's not gonna be an assault. They've launched an F-18 air strike.

No one on that platform is gonna survive.

I'm sorry, Jack.

Jack, don't even think about it.

You'll only get yourself killed. You won't save Josh.

Look, I realize he's your nephew.

I'm not gonna do something because he's my nephew.

I'm gonna do something because he's an innocent kid.

Being written off as some kind of acceptable loss is wrong.

Nadia's ordered us back to C.T.U. in Chopper 1. I'm gonna take it.

I'll fly. You prep the weapons.

It's been a while, but I can get us to the platform.

With any luck, I might even be able to get us back.

You don't need to do this, Bill. Yes, I do.

I don't wanna live with this one either.

Let's get ready.

You're gonna need that.

We're commandeering your helicopter. Get out. Now!

Matching target coordinates. We'll be in range in 22 minutes.

Sir, significant numbers of Russian troops have assumed a flanking position...

along the eastern rim of our military base. What am I to take from that?

Well, a tactical advancement like that indicates imminent attack.

All right, put him through. Sir?

- You got Suvarov? - Yes, sir.

Mr. President, this is Vice President Daniels.

Mr. Vice President, the last time we spoke,

you said an opportunity had presented itself.

Unfortunately, that didn't work out.

But there has been a significant new development,

and I'm asking you to hold off on any military assault on our base.

For what reason, sir?

The Chinese agents who are in possession of the component...

have been tracked to an oil platform off our west coast.

We assume that they're awaiting transport to China.

And I've ordered an air strike to destroy the platform before that rendezvous can happen.

I realize that you have no reason to accept what I'm telling you...

Not without proof at least... But I implore you...

Mr. Vice President, I believe you.

Just moments ago, one of our listening posts...

intercepted a transmission to a Chinese submarine operating in the western Pacific.

The point of origin is 10 miles off your coast.

And the contents suggest that the submarine is en route to pick up the component.

Then you know that I'm telling you the truth.

You say you've already launched an air strike against this oil platform?

Yes, that's the only way we can make absolutely certain that the component's been destroyed.

Sir, we're prepared to give you a real-time uplink...

to our satellite feed of the assault operation.

One moment, please.

Uh, how long until your fighters reach the target?

Less then 20 minutes, sir.

Twenty minutes, Mr. President.

Very well.

But be advised, nothing less than the complete destruction of this oil platform...

will give us the assurance we require. Understood.

Stand by. The satellite feed will be there momentarily.

I wish you luck, Mr. Vice President.

Yes, the coast guard and the navy are coordinating directly.

They're patrolling a five-mile perimeter around the target.

I want real-time updates. Let me know of any changes.

Yes, sir. I'll keep you in the loop. What is it, Morris?

Jack's commandeered a C.T.U. chopper.

He's requesting an uplink to our satellite feed. What?

He's on the way to the oil platform. He's with Bill Buchanan.

Aerial 1, please confirm. Come in.

This is Bauer. We copy.

Look, Jack, I know you wanna save your nephew,

but I can't authorize a suicide mission.

We don't need your authorization. We need your help.

Those F-18s will be within striking range in 18 minutes.

What if we find the component first?

It won't make a difference. The orders are noncontingent.

All you're gonna do is get yourselves killed. Nadia, it's Bill.

Look, I understand the pressure you're under,

but you have to believe me when I tell you this is the right call to make.

Morris said you need a visual on the oil platform. - Yes.

We need to know how many hostiles are on the platform and where they are.

Uploading the latest satellite capture.

You'll have it in a few seconds. Copy that. Send it to my P.D.A.

P.D.A. Got it. - Thank you, Nadia. You did the right thing.

Bill, I need you to put your comm unit in.