Two traitors are uncovered. One is the mole in the Palmer administration who is working with Stanton. The other is the member of the Warner family who helped Syed Ali to bring the bomb into the country. Jack learns of Ali's location and tries to rescue Kate. Kim and Miguel hatch an escape plan to stay out of LA, but the results are disastrous.

Kate helps Jack to locate and identify Syed Ali. Palmer places Stanton under arrest, but he won't break. Palmer realizes he must go to extremes to make Stanton talk. Kim hits her low point of the day when she encounters a cougar in the woods.

Jack engages in a brutal contest of wills with Syed Ali. George questions Bob Warner to learn more about Marie's motivations for helping the terrorists. Kim is rescued by a mysterious hunter who offers her asylum. Lynne receives a dire warning from Sherry.

Jack and his men prepare for a confrontation with Stanton's renegade soldiers as they converge on the bomb. Kim becomes suspicious of her host, but is forced to stay because of her status with the police. Stanton finally breaks down and gives Palmer some unpleasant news.

Jack and Kate try to break Marie's resolve so they can learn the location of the bomb. Palmer confronts his ex wife with the information that Stanton gave them. George finally steps down as director of CTU and hands the position over to Tony. Kim discovers her host's deception.

Palmer, Mike and Lynne discuss various ways to dispose of the ticking bomb. They conclude that the desert is the best place to set it off. Jack determines that one man must pilot the plane carrying the bomb. He chooses to fly the plane himself and bids a tearful goodbye to his daughter. Tony and Michelle become suspicious of a Middle Eastern diplomat who is asking questions about the evidence against Syed Ali. Palmer departs for Los Angeles so he can be on hand when news of the nuclear bomb reaches the public.

Jack and Michelle question Syed Ali, who claims that the audio recordings are false. Palmer prepares to wage war against the three countries who were involved in the nuclear strike. Kim gets caught in a hostage situation. Jack is contacted by a man who wants to exchange information for Kate Warner.

Jack and Sherry Palmer prepare for a dangerous meeting with the head of the war conspiracy at the L.A. Coliseum; David Palmer sits in as the Cabinet waits for confirmation of the Cypress Chip's invalidity; the air strike on the Middle East draws nearer; the conspiracy goes to an old agent to put Palmer out of play.

Jack and Chase race against time to capture Saunders before the deadline, while Chappelle plans an escape.

Michelle begins a frantic search when she learns that an infected hotel guest may have slipped through her fingers.

Jack attempts to use Saunders' daughter as leverage to gain control of the virus, while Palmer must deal with the discontented press.

Michelle gets the results of her test, while Adam finds that the virus has struck too close to home.

Tony finds himself compromised when Saunders exploits his only weakness.

Tony works to free Jane from CTU before Saunders can harm Michelle, but Chloe and Jack become suspicious of his activities.

Sherry meets with Palmer's political rival and proposes a deal to blackmail him.