5:14
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Jack sees Eric Carter and his team prepare. Eric and a female operative pretend to be a hooker and her client. Another agent looks like a drug dealer, three others are dressed like homeless people. Aslan will hopefully just think they are part of the scenery.
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2:16 am Kabul time
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Colonel Mcnamara is speaking with major Barnes.
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Barnes: Our intel says that most of the Taliban spotters have left the local buildings. Maybe after what happened in Virginia they're worried about retaliation.
Mcnamara: Which brings up the question of why some remain.
Barnes: I could be wrong on this but I think Hekmetyar is serious about the peace, so he recalled his snipers.
Mcnamara: Then those who stay, maybe they follow someone else's orders.
Barnes: Can't rule it out. What should we do?
Mcnamara: If they're part of the anti-peace faction of the Taliban, then they're more dangerous. Maybe we should take precautions to protect ourselves.
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President Allen finishes her address and speaks with Gardner.
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Allen: Has the vice-president returned?
Gardner: Not yet madam president. Putin sends his condolences regarding the attack in Virginia.
Allen: That would be more credible if it weren't for the war crimes he's commiting against Ukraine. Is there any indication that the sanctions frighten him in any way?
Gardner: Not really. The problem is that if he has to choose between standing up to us, or standing up to his own right flank, it would be much easier to stand up to America. There's something else. I've spoken with someone from the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. They are moving the Doomsday Clock, it will be ninety seconds to midnight.
Allen: Because of Virginia, or Putin's war with Ukraine?
Gardner: Both, and climate change hasn't gotten better recently.
Allen: Let's hope we can prove them wrong.
Gardner: CTU is involved in an operation to try and capture Aslan, believed to be the mastermind behind the Virginia attack.
Allen: That's some good news.
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Eric Carter quietly watches from his motel room. Two more of his agents arrive, dresses as homeless people. Hopefully they can capture Aslan alive. If he's planning anything else maybe they can stop it. If the Virginia attack was the endgame, Aslan will be brought to justice.
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5:22