The following takes place between 4am and 5am. Events occur in real time.
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4:00
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Jack couldn't believe that Christopher Henderson, the man he once considered his mentor, was the terrorist behind this attack on the plant. There had been an incident, five years ago, Jack helped Hederson fake his death. Henderson had sworn to give up this crap, he was evidently going back on his word.
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Jack: I thought you were a man of your word.
Henderson: I am, that's why I convinced my team to spare your life.
Jack: You were always a hardliner, but why would you help terrorists melt down a nuclear power plant.
Henderson: I wouldn't. This is a bluff, a way to help the american people wake up. Make them demand that Donovan give's up his appeasement crap and do what has to be done. Twenty years from now there will either be an american flag flying over Mecca, or the crescent moon over the White House. I'd prefer the first one.
Jack: Then why did you put an explosive charge on the reactor.
Henderson: I didn't.
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On the highway Laura continues to hold Zoya hostage. Laura is scared, she knows she will either go to prison, or die. She doesn't want to die, but she is scared of prison. Laura doesn't want to murder Zoya, but she knows that her hostage is the only thing keeping the police at bay. She can't keep this up for long. Maybe just long enough to decide if she really wants to die. Officer Baker tries to talk her down.
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Baker: I know you're scared, and I don't blame you. You were scared, desperate, you were just worried about your baby. Maybe this other woman took your formula, but she was just trying to protect her own baby. You don;t really want to hurt another mother. And your baby needs you. Maybe your lawyer can negotiate probation, assuming that Zoya doesn't die. You don't have to die, you can still be the mother that your son needs.
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Laura knew that Baker was right, even if she had to serve some jail time she could still get out and be a mother. Laura apologized to Zoya, and surrendered to Baker.
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Jack continued to interrogate Henderson, despite being tied up. He hopes that this conversation distracts Henderson, that he won't notice him untying his ropes.
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Jack: We had a deal Christopher, that you dissapear with Miriam and live out your lives.
Henderson: Miriam left me, and I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I have, maybe, four months left. I'd rather die here, a hero, then just wither away in a hospital.
Jack: Does that include those stadium bombings? Last I hear there were almost six thousand casualties.
Henderson; I didn't know about that. I didn't know everything about senator Allen's plans.
Jack: You knew enough. And maybe president Allen would have covered up your involvement, but Donovan has too much integrity.
Henderson: He will, the people will demand he take action. He'll cover up our involvement so that the rest of the world will support our new aggressive policy.
Jack: Hekmetyar is serious about peace, reouncing terrorism, even protecting the rights of women and minorities.
Henderson: Maybe, but his own people have branded him a traitor. It's only a matter of time before a version of the stabbed in the back myth gains popularity in Afghanistan. I know I'm a dead man on furlough, the question is whether we can count on you to go along with the coverup. You're already going to Supermax when this is all over.
Jack: Yes I am. Save me a seat.
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Jack broke free of his ropes and quickly knocked Henderson out before he could call for back-up. Jack went to the next room, and quickly shot the two terrorists who were guarding the technicians. With the hostages secured Jack immediately called Blanchard to take the plant. Blanchard's team immediately moved in. Some of these ultra-nationalists went down shooting, as was the plan. Others lost their nerve and surrendered. But one of them sent a secret signal to their team. These six went into hiding, they had one last mission to complete.
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4:12