Jack Bauer paced anxiously in the Counter Terrorist Unit's headquarters. He had returned to CTU after chasing terrorists for the past three hours. He uncovered substantial information about their next move and needed to report it immediately. Now, he just needed to wait of the results.
"Jack, come here." Chloe O'Brian yelled from her station. Jack ran over to her.
"What'd you find?"
"I intercepted an email just a minute ago. It tells the details of their next move."
"What is it?" Jack pushed.
"I don't think you understand the magnitude of this situation, Jack."
"Don't give me that bullshit Chloe! Tell me what they're planning!"
"Jack." Edgar Stiles had appeared from behind them. "Look, these guys are bad. They just blew up three U.S. offices in China, Korea and Japan. Now they're looking for new targets. You've killed a total of twelve of their men, but our estimates put their numbers in the hundreds. You have to listen. We're they're going next might give you a too emotional connection."
"Where…are…they?"
"They're heading to Milwaukee. It seems that they figured the hundreds of adults they killed won't match up to the thousands of kids they could kill next."
"Kids?"
This time Chloe spoke, "They've reached a private high school there. It's one of the largest in the state, and it has over 1200 kids. With the teachers included in that count, their school population exceeds 1300."
"They're going to bomb a school?"
"No, they're going to take it hostage, ask for demands, kill all who oppose and then kill all remaining once they get what they want."
"I'm going."
"Jack, we don't think it's a good idea. You have a daughter, you feel connected."
"I'm going. I want a tactical team to set up a perimeter of three blocks. These guys most likely will be spread out. I need a helicopter and to be outfitted with equipment. I'm leaving as soon as the chopper is ready." Without another word, Jack turned and strode away, leaving his two co-workers, as always, speechless.
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"Curtis, I want you to set up a command post outside the school. Edgar, are you with me?"
A voice crackled over Jack's head set, "Yeah, I'm here Jack."
"I need the schematics of the school as well as infrared imaging to place all hostiles. How soon can you get that?"
"Give me ten minutes."
"Great, get back to me. Now, I want Castle's team to wait for my signal. With a school this large, I'm guessing that they will have them spread out to reduce the risk of retaliation. Once Edgar gets me the infrared, I'll enter the building and proceed to an empty room. All teams will wait for my command." Jack's cell phone rang and he answered. "This is Bauer."
"Jack, there's a large amount of civilians on the 1st floor, which is technically the school's basement. I see a large number huddled in one main room. I count seven hostiles. There are at least thirty rooms on each floor, with an average of seventeen occupied. Smaller amounts, only two hostiles in each room. The 5th floor seems to be the smallest, and not much activity there. I count three rooms out of eleven occupied. One room is totally void of people, I am unsure if there are civilians or hostiles, the infrared is having trouble picking up their readings. It must have something obstructing the satellite."
"Okay, thanks Edgar." Jack stood and jumped from the van. "Listen for my command."
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"Quiet!" A man yelled. He walked over to a group of kids huddled beside their teacher. They leaned back. "Do you want to die?" He grabbed a girl roughly by the arm, and heaved her to her feet. She screamed in fear.
"No! Don't hurt her! Please." A younger male teacher yelled out. The captor released the girl and she slid close to her group.
"Are you going to be today's hero?" The captor asked the teacher.
"No, I'm being these kids teacher. As long as they're in school, I am responsible for them."
"Ah, well put. Looks as if I might have to pick in another group." The man shrugged and headed in the direction of a much more frightened pack of students.
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"I'm going to scale down to the 5th floor. I will be radio silent until I assess the situation." Jack said into his intercom.
"Copy that. Contact us as soon as possible."
Jack turned off his radio and propelled off the roof of the school. He was right above where the empty room was located. In moments, he was outside the windows. Carefully, he slid through the opening, just barely fitting and entered the school. He dropped and drew his gun. Slowly, quietly, he moved. He jerked to a stop when a boy walked past his hiding spot. He quickly took action and jumped at the chance.
The boy had no clue what hit him. Jack leapt from the shadows. Swinging an arm around the guy's neck, Jack yanked him back and pressed his gun to the guy's temple.
"You mutter one word and I won't hesitate to shoot you." Jack walked forward with his hostage, but froze as another emerged from behind a curtain. Two more came from his right, another three on his left. They took position and circled him. They all had weapons of some sort. Hammers, screwdrivers, a cane, you name it, they had it.
"Let him go," One simply stated.
"Put your weapons down. I'm a Federal Agent. I'm here to rescue you."
"Bullshit!" A boy yelled. "That's what the other guys said. 'Yeah, we're here for a college visit, from the FBI.' Right."
"I'm telling the truth." Jack still held the boy. His keen senses though, we clouded with this new surprise. He never saw the two boys come from behind and hit him hard on the back of his neck. He staggered and tried to remain conscious as he slowly slumped to the floor.
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