4:50
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Jack Bauer and his group guard one reactor, Blanchard and his group guard the other. In less than 15 minutes the terrorist's window for optimum casualties will close. If they're planning to strike they'll have to hit soon.
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CTU watches the video feeds from the smartphones. They'll be ready if called upon, but for now there is little they can do. Former president Hellar goes to his daughter Audrey, and holds her hand. They are both scared, they need this little comfort.
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President Donovan watches the footage. The terrorists are likely to hit any second now. Both groups are scanning the area, looking for any explosives or otherwise dangerous weapons. Donovan hates nervously waiting like this, it has always been the hardest part of an already difficult job. It's a wonder he hasn't had a heart attack yet.
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As Tony scans the area around the reactor, he finds something. It's a cannister, in the ventilation system. He immediately alerts Jack. Jack calls Blanchard and tells his that there's likely a similar cannister, probably with poisonous gas, near their reactor. Jack and Tony begin disarming their cannister, Blanchard's technician attempts to do the same. Jack and Tony are successful, the other technician is not. That cannister goes off, nerve gas is released. It quickly kills the technician, Ella, Blanchard, and the other guards.
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Split screens show Donovan, CTU, and others watching in horror as Mary Mitchell and two other terrorists enter the reactor, wearing gas masks and prepared to melt down the reactor and kill many innocent civilians.
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The terrorists have taken over one of the reactors, the other is secure. But there are still three terrorists unnaccounted for. If they take the reactor in the next few minutes, all is lost.
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4:59:57
4:59:58
4:59:59
5:00:00