Buchanan takes Jack to "CTU", a secret hideout where he and Chloe had been working with Tony to uncover the conspiracy within the US government. Tony had been undercover with the terrorists aiding Juma to discover the moles. Jack agrees to help get Tony back in play by joining Emerson's crew himself.

Taylor is forced to meet with Matobo to inform him that she may be required to withdraw her forces from Sangala to protect American lives. Her Chief of Staff Ethan Kanin agrees with this decision, but Taylor is not yet convinced.

Henry meets with Samantha, Roger's former girlfriend, who tells him that Roger was indeed murdered and provides him with proof.

Not even at the halfway point of this hellacious day, two planes have collided outside of D.C., there has been an attempt on a chemical plant in Ohio, the President’s husband’s life has been threatened and the nation remains at risk. When Dubaku’s evil plan escalates to his boss, General Juma (guest star Tony Todd), the stakes are raised and steadfast President Taylor faces a deepening foreign policy dilemma.

Olivia Taylor, the President’s daughter, becomes increasingly involved in the day’s events, and the administration reels when a high-ranking official delivers devastating news.

The nation remains vulnerable as Starkwood mastermind Jonas Hodges (guest star Jon Voight) remains at the epicenter of the mounting terrorist threat. Meanwhile, the FBI and the administration scramble to provide security and justice, and Jack Bauer questions a key suspect

Jack Bauer is forced to help Tony escape from custody, only to find Tony plans to use Jack to reconstitute the pathogen. Aaron Pierce and Ethan Kanin work together and discover Olivia's role in Hodges' murder. Kim Bauer takes down her captors, and works with Renee Walker to find her father.

Jack Bauer becomes further involved in preventing an assassination attempt on visiting president Omar Hassan. As the crisis continues to escalate, the crew at the newly upgraded CTU is challenged by some unexpected complicated circumstances. Meanwhile, tensions run high when an explosive event jeopardizes international security.

Four explosive hours after being unwillingly drawn back into action, Jack Bauer reteams with a risky Renee Walker to track some very dangerous leads. Meanwhile, back at CTU, a desperate Dana Walsh faces tense and untimely circumstances, and emotions escalate when President Taylor learns of a larger looming threat that jeopardizes the peace accord with President Hassan.

As Jack's day enters the early morning hours, the nation remains vulnerable, and President Taylor presses on with her international peace process. With the possibility of colossal failure facing CTU, attention turns to who is to blame, and things get personal when operatives take matters into their own hands.

President Taylor's vision of global peace has been foiled over the last 13 hellish hours, and the situation worsens when the imminent threat of mass destruction clarifies. As her idealistic nature becomes a point of contention, she tasks Jack Bauer with a crucial mission, and advisor Ethan Kanin returns in the heart-stopping.

With only five hours left, the clock races toward the climactic series finale as Jack stops at absolutely nothing to avenge the emotional setback of losing his beloved partner Renee Walker. Meanwhile, the administration attempts to keep the historic and pivotal peace agreement on track as undermining forces surface.