My Plan for the New MLB Schedule Format for 2013 and Beyond

Well, against all odds, MLB was successful in realigning the leagues to ensure an equitable schedule format for all teams starting in 2013, capitalizing on a "perfect storm" of circumstances. Houston sucked beyond belief this season and the team was put up for sale. Also, Houston plays in the 6-team National League Central--the one that had to be reduced to five--and didn't have the long history that the Cubs and Cardinals share, or that of Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Furthermore, the Milwaukee-Chicago rivalry is a perfect geographical fit for both the Cubs and Brewers, and unless the Royals were willing to move to the AL West, the Brewers aren't going back to the AL. (The Brewers are the most recent NL Central champs, too.) So Bud Selig was given this gift and eagerly took advantage. Now the Astros and Rangers will play more than their usual six and, if the Astros can return to their mid-2000s form, a fierce rivalry will develop between the two pinnacle Texas cities.

Initially, there was real fear that with such a drastic realignment, interleague play--which will now have to have at least one such game every day in which all 30 teams are playing--would be forced to expand, possibly as much to 30 games per team. Turns out all that fevered prognostication was premature. Such people were using the number of days in a season to figure out the math, rather than the number of series. Much smarter people elsewhere have done the math and have figured out that MLB could actually choose to reduce interleague in 2013 if they wanted, not increase.

With that in mind, I have decided to figure out what MLB should do for their new schedule format starting in 2013. It's pretty simple to understand and incorporates ideas from the successful NFL schedule format, such as playing one interleague division a year and determining number of games against other intra-league opponents based on previous divisional finish (or any at all in the more meaningful NFL system).

Here's the basic layout:

72 Divisional Games
     18 Games vs. 4 opponents
72 Intra-League Games
     9 Games vs. 2 opponents
     7 Games vs. 6 opponents
     6 Games vs. 2 opponents
18 Interleague Games
     3 games vs. 5 opponents
     3 games vs. "Natural Rival"

So basically, we're keeping the status quo for the most part, which I suspect is what MLB wants. We get to keep playing 18 games a year against your division foes; we'll still have 18 four and a half hour games between the Red Sox and Yankees. And MLB will keep its 18-interleague slate, just as they like it. So, let's get into specifics. First, my inspiration from the NFL.

Interleague Play


Similar to the NFL, teams will play 15 games against 5 teams from an opposing league division, rotating on a yearly basis. It will be 3-game series and teams will alternate the site every 3 years. That way, every team will play every other team in baseball every 3 years at least and fans will be able to see every team in the other league play in their stadium every 6 years.

So, filling out the 18 game slate, teams will then play their "natural rival" 3 times, with the home team alternating every year. For years in which the divisions match up, it'll just turn into a home-and-home. The Subway Series, the Bay Bridge Series, etc, will all return to their original 3-game series, but the intensity of those games will be increased and fans will still get the customary home-and-home every 3 years.

As for those natural rivals, most of them are pretty obvious and set in stone. Here's my list for how this will work out:


Baltimore Orioles vs Washington Nationals
Boston Red Sox vs Philadelphia Phillies
New York Yankees vs New York Mets
Tampa Bay Rays vs Miami Marlins
Toronto Blue Jays vs Atlanta Braves

Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs
Cleveland Indians vs Cincinnati Reds
Detroit Tigers vs Pittsburgh Pirates
Kansas City Royals vs St. Louis Cardinals
Minnesota Twins vs Milwaukee Brewers

Los Angeles Angels vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Houston Astros vs Arizona Diamondbacks
Oakland Athletics vs San Francisco Giants
Seattle Mariners vs San Diego Padres
Texas Rangers vs Colorado Rockies

As you see, all of them are in corresponding divisions, so for years in which the home-and-home returns, everyone in that division will have a similar schedule. The only real issue arose in the West vs West alignment, as Houston and Texas used to be each other's "natural rival," so I just went with general geography: Houston is on a comparable latitude to Arizona, so they match up. And so forth for Texas and Colorado. Nothing really sexy there, but it had to be even for all.

(And yes, Seattle and San Diego are already considered "natural rivals" as far as MLB is concerned. They share a Spring Training facility or something, which is a rather bizarre reasoning for 6 games a year between these two.)

Also, as much as I love the connection between the Boston Red Sox and the original Boston Braves, Philadelphia has already become Boston's de facto "natural rival" over the years, so I kept it in place. MLB really loves the relatively short distance between the two cities (cheap travel fare) so, even though Toronto and Philadelphia had a great World Series in 1993, the Braves will have to face the Blue Jays every year. (But hey, they faced off in the 1992 World Series, so there's that intrigue.)

So, for the new Subway Series, assuming the Yankees will host the Mets in the first year of the new schedule, and assuming the AL East and NL East don't face off until 2015, here's what it'll look like into perpetuity:


2013: @Yankees
2014: @Mets
2015: @Yankees @Mets
2016: @Mets
2017: @Yankees
2018: @Mets @Yankees
2019: @Yankees
2020: @Mets
2021: @Yankees @Mets
2022: @Mets

So, there'll never be a year in which the Yankees and Mets would play all six possible games at one stadium, and over the course of several years, the schedule would balance out. And the same would be true for all "natural rivalries."

Also, with interleague play expanding to year-long, MLB will be able to spread out all the marquee "natural rivalry" matchups so each one will get its own focus: Cubs-White Sox, Giants-A's, Angels-Dodgers, will no longer have to share the national stage with the Subway Series.

And in case you're wondering how we would align the interleague divisions set to play each other in 2013, we'll simply continue what's already been set into motion years ago. In 2012, the AL East will "generally" play the NL East, the AL Central the NL Central, the AL West the NL West. So, in 2013, we'll shift accordingly: it'll be the ALE vs NLW, ALC vs NLE, and ALW vs NLC. 2014, ALE vs NLC, ALC vs NLW, and ALW vs NLE. And then it goes back. Basically:


2012: ALE-NLE ALC-NLC ALW-NLW
2013: ALE-NLW ALC-NLE   ALW-NLC
2014: ALE-NLC ALC-NLW ALW-NLE

So, with that settled, let's move on to how the schedule would work for inside one's own league, aside from divisional play...

The Remaining 72 Games


One of my favorite things about the NFL schedule format is how two games a year are predicated on how well (or how poorly) a team performs in the previous year. If you finish first in your division, next year you'd have to face the division winners in four of the seven other divisions: the two that were already set in stone, and two from your own conference. If you are a last place team, that number drops to two.

This format creates a fascinating scenario in which a team could go three full years without facing a team from its own conference, and even possibly six years in-between playing in a team's stadium.

Obviously, something that drastic is impossible in baseball, but my plan will include something similar. As I laid out earlier, the remaining 72 games in your own league will function like this:


72 Intra-League Games
     9 Games vs. 2 opponents
     7 Games vs. 6 opponents
     6 Games vs. 2 opponents

And, like the NFL, which team you will face 9 times a year vs 6 times a year will be dependent on how teams finish in the regular season. Simply put, division winners will play the other two division winners 9 times, while only playing the two last-place teams 6 times. And so down the line, 2nd place playing 2nd place 9 times, 5th-place playing 5th-place 9 times. Things get messy after that to determine the teams that 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place teams will only play 6 times, but as long as teams are playing their division "matches" 9 times, and division champions are only playing last place teams 6 times, it should be good for baseball.

Now, while I prefer for teams and fanbases to wait until after the regular season (where the "division matches" would be determined) for the next year's schedule to be calculated and released, I understand that MLB has recently been determining those schedules during the baseball season itself and unveiling them in September. This had a lot to do with the mind-numbing trickery they had to perform with the uneven divisions and lack of true "natural rivalries," as well as allowing fans 7 to 12 months advance to book their reservations, etc. MLB will probably want to maintain that, so the rankings from the previous season will have to be used. Hence, the 2011 final standings will the basis for the 2013 season, 2012 for 2014, and so forth. For the purposes of the schedule, last-place Houston will be considered the "5th place" team in the AL West. If the same result doesn't happen in their final year in the NL, their number of wins would be considered in the context of the AL West. Again, this isn't the NFL; we're not talking about the difference between a matchup happening or not. It's 9 games or 6 games. And its allure would be diminished by the increased length of time; NFL fans know the second the regular season is over all 16 opponents for next year. This would not be the case for this system.

As for how we'd schedule the two 6-game series for teams not fortunate (or unfortunate) to finish either 1st or 5th in their divisions, it's fairly complicated and involves a 3-year rotation pattern. I've worked it out on a spreadsheet accounting for all 15 teams per league, and it is possible. I don't know yet how to upload such files to this blogspot, so you won't get to see how incredibly nerdy I can be, but believe me, it can be done for all teams 2 through 4.


As for homefield advantage for some of these games, with two 9-game series and six 7-game series, it will alternate between divisions every year, somewhat similar to what they do in the NFL. Very simply, one year the East divisions will have homefield advantage over the West divisions, while at a disadvantage to the Central divisions. It'd be the reverse the next year.


Now, obviously, the difference between 9 and 6 isn't too significant in baseball, and only schedule nerds like me will care or even wonder why the Red Sox played the White Sox 9 times, or why the Yankees only played the Twins 6 times. But it'll be a system for MLB to easily plug into their computer to figure out next year's schedule and may give last-place teams, just like in the NFL, just a little room to climb out of their hole.

Examples


So, with all this in mind, let's see how my system will determine the 2013 schedule makeup for my team, the Boston Red Sox. Under this scenario, the AL East will play the NL West, and has homefield advantage over AL West teams.


2013 Boston Red Sox Season

AL East
18 Games against Baltimore
18 Games against NY Yankees
18 Games against Tampa Bay
18 Games against Toronto

AL Central
9 Games against CHI White Sox
7 Games against Detroit
7 Games against Kansas City
7 Games against Minnesota
6 Games against Cleveland

AL West
9 Games against Oakland
7 Games against Texas
7 Games against Seattle
7 Games against Houston
6 Games against LA Angels

Interleague
3 Games @ Arizona
3 Games vs Colorado
3 Games @ LA Dodgers
3 Games vs Philadelphia
3 Games @ San Diego
3 Games vs San Francisco

So, as you can see here, since the Red Sox suffered the 3rd worst statistical collapse in baseball history--but easily the most memorable :( --and finished 3rd in 2011, they'd play Chicago and Oakland 9 times in 2013. As for the interleague makeup, I've determined the host site based off of when the Red Sox last played them (Boston will visit Philadelphia AGAIN in 2012). So, let's expand on that further:


2014 Boston Red Sox Season

AL East
18 Games against Baltimore
18 Games against NY Yankees
18 Games against Tampa Bay
18 Games against Toronto

AL Central
9 Games against 2012 Match
7 Games against Team
7 Games against Team
7 Games against Team
6 Games against 2012 Non-match as Determined by Formula

AL West
9 Games against 2012 Match
7 Games against Team
7 Games against Team
7 Games against Team
6 Games against 2012 Non-match as Determined by Formula

Interleague
3 Games vs CHI Cubs
3 Games vs Cincinnati
3 Games @ Milwaukee
3 Games vs Pittsburgh
3 Games @ Philadelphia
3 Games @ St. Louis


And now 2015...


2015 Boston Red Sox Season

AL East
18 Games against Baltimore
18 Games against NY Yankees
18 Games against Tampa Bay
18 Games against Toronto

AL Central
9 Games against 2013 Match
7 Games against Team
7 Games against Team
7 Games against Team
6 Games against 2013 Non-match as Determined by Formula

AL West
9 Games against 2013 Match
7 Games against Team
7 Games against Team
7 Games against Team
6 Games against 2013 Non-match as Determined by Formula

Interleague
6 Games against Philadelphia
3 Games @ Atlanta
3 Games vs Miami
3 Games vs NY Mets
3 Games @ Washington

Figuring out the interleague host sites for 2015 proved more difficult than the others, but such is the case being hindered by the schedule inequity currently in place. And now, completing the interleague cycle, 2016...


2016 Boston Red Sox Season

AL East
18 Games against Baltimore
18 Games against NY Yankees
18 Games against Tampa Bay
18 Games against Toronto

AL Central
9 Games against 2014 Match
7 Games against Team
7 Games against Team
7 Games against Team
6 Games against 2014 Non-match as Determined by Formula

AL West
9 Games against 2014 Match
7 Games against Team
7 Games against Team
7 Games against Team
6 Games against 2014 Non-match as Determined by Formula

Interleague
3 Games vs Arizona
3 Games @ Colorado
3 Games vs LA Dodgers
3 Games @ Philadelphia
3 Games vs San Diego
3 Games @ San Francisco

Now, to give the Red Sox's rival, and, *clenches fists* defending AL East champs, the New York Yankees, a look at what their 2013 schedule would look like:


2013 New York Yankees Season

AL East
18 Games against Baltimore
18 Games against Boston
18 Games against Tampa Bay
18 Games against Toronto

AL Central
9 Games against Detroit
7 Games against Cleveland
7 Games against CHI White Sox
7 Games against Kansas City
6 Games against Minnesota

AL West
9 Games against Texas
7 Games against LA Angels
7 Games against Oakland
7 Games against Seattle
6 Games against Houston

Interleague
3 Games vs Arizona
3 Games @ Colorado
3 Games vs LA Dodgers
3 Games vs NY Mets
3 Games @ San Diego
3 Games @ San Francisco

Conclusion


So, there you have it. The best possible MLB schedule for the realigned leagues starting in 2013, one that keeps the current system just the way MLB likes it: 162 games, 72 divisional games, 72 non-divisional intra-league games, and 18 interleague games. It maintains the natural interleague rivalries and ensures all teams from both leagues face each other regularly. And it determines the makeup of the remaining 72 games by using the final standings from two seasons prior, more or less ensuring recently good teams play each other the maximum 9 times.

I know the real MLB schedule makers--the nerds like me--are hard at work at this and have had experience researching this the last time the 15-team league was proposed. So I put this to their consideration and hope they make the right decision for whatever format they choose.

My Thoughts on the Republican Presidential Race

Oh yes, finally, the clown known as Herman Cain was forced out of the race, although true to that nutty Republican establishment, it was only when allegations of infidelity--a consensual affair--came out, instead of allegations of SEXUAL ASSAULT. But he was always in this race for the money; a true vanity campaign to position himself as a "black conservative" in order to sell books, get speaking gigs, and maybe sign with Fox News for a TV show. He was never meant to get this much attention, and scrutiny, and with the "Cain Train" already slipping in the polls after the SEXUAL ASSAULT accusations, he was finally convinced by prominent Republicans behind the scenes (who knew the truth about his "candidacy") to move on. So, in true "Cain Wreck" style, he announced his "suspension" at the opening of a new campaign office (?) and was still in the bus when he was introduced. And so the wild arc of Cain's candidacy came to a close: a vanity campaign to frontrunner, the Anti-Romney of the desperate Republican base, and now moving on to his original second phase: speaking circuit.

Meanwhile, the Republican primary continues to reel from the lack of true "credible alternatives" to Romney, such as Mitch Daniels or Mike Huckabee, and now we see the curious case of Newt Gingrich. He is incredibly the FOURTH candidate to rise from obscurity to run-away frontrunner in this wild, unpredictable race, and it's surprising, but also a bit telling, the Republican base didn't "look to him" earlier. On the surface, he sounds moderate, seems to be intelligent, accepts climate change, and is acceptable to the Republican establishment (he's part of it to a degree.) But underneath that surface, it's quite ugly. Just like with Cain, Gingrich never thought he had a realistic change and treated this as a vanity campaign. (He decided to take a long vacation in Greece for crying out loud.) But his intentions are actually a lot more seedier than Cain's: for years, Gingrich has been using his name recognition to actually scam people out of their money for his own personal wealth. It's complicated to explain, but basically, Gingrich offers "awards" over e-mail to lots of people but the only way to accept the award is to attend a $5,000 "awards dinner" or something like that. And that's not even the end of it. Rachel Maddow has been doing a lot of research (wait, journalists with an open bias can actually do research and report on it? Who knew?) and has detailed the vileness, so for more information, check her stuff out.

As with Cain, and Perry, and Bachmann, the media will dig through it all and hopefully his underreported scam operation will come out, but with Iowa quickly closing it, there may not be enough time for all of Gingrich's hypocrisy, HUGE baggage from the 90's, etc, to derail his momentum. That Republican base is clamoring for the alternative to Mitt "I Was Pro-Choice Until I Wasn't Exactly One Week After The 2004 Election" Romney and Gingrich may just be it. And that concerns me somewhat. I know many Democrats would love to see Obama face off against Gingrich, another aged Republican leader who's been around awhile, and there are serious pitfalls for Gingrich in the general: his scam, his haughty, arrogant demeanor, and his penchant for suggesting wild things such as poor children becoming janitors for their school. I can see the ads already. But again, he can pull a Reagan and act all moderate and reasonable, despite his extreme positions, and also has a knack for classy moves: he once debated John Kerry way back in 2007 over how to solve climate change in a true Lincoln-Douglas fashion, and he has proposed 3-HOUR debates with the President over the economy. So, Gingrich may be easy to demolish on certain points, but he scares me.

So yeah, if President Gingrich happens, I'm seriously moving to Canada the next day.

24: Alternate Day Four Fanfiction: 4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.

I was much more pleased and content with 24's Day 4 when it premiered in 2005. The first half of the season was nearly flawless and its best run since Day 2. But, something happened midway through, and the season endured a 6-hour stretch of mediocrity and disconnect. For the first time in the show's history, an episode felt just like that: an episode, with no real plot flow from one to the next. They fortunately rebounded with the return of President Palmer, Paul Raines's death, and a nice twist to the rehashed nuclear bomb threat from Day 2. But it was still a lost quarter of a season.


The real problem, in my opinion, was the decision to elevate Marwan to the main villain of the final 12 hours. It's been said that Arnold Vosloo was only supposed to appear in six episodes but his role was expanded after they were "impressed with his performance," which only makes you wonder what the original plan was for the second half.


Regardless, Marwan as a character simply was not compelling enough to deserve main villain status, even though the attacks he was carrying out were. Navi Araz at least had the family element, and the actor delivered. Vosloo did not.


So, I'm of the opinion that Marwan was not supposed to be the main villain that occupied Jack's and CTU's attention for the final 13 hours, but rather it was supposed to be McLennan-Forster. Why else the strong focus on them for those two hours? Why the EMP?


The evidence is even stronger when you watch a deleted scene in which Forbes, the man who captured and questioned Curtis in Hour 10, admits that he works for McLennan-Forster. Their intentions are left cryptic, and it is implied from the commentary that they were trying to work out the defense contractor's role in the story. And, as it appeared, they tried, but it didn't satisfy them, and they gave up, settling into the easier yet more clunky plot of more terrorist attacks by Marwan, even though they effectively broke the real-time conceit in the process.


In my fanfiction, I corrected all that by having McLennan-Forster be the sponsors of Marwan and his cells, therefore making the trial of Heller and the meltdowns the only pre-planned actions of Day 4. The second half thus becomes a desperate struggle by treasonous CEO Gene McLennan to escape the country and cover his tracks, but when things go horribly wrong, the rest of season follows his attempt to deliver a fatal blow to the country that destroyed everything he had built.


So, for the purposes of publishing this fanfiction, unlike Day 3, the first nine hours of Day 4 were perfect in my opinion and don't need any changes. It was only in Hour 10 that the solid ground of the season started to shift. There's only a small tinkering here, but things will get different after Hour 11.


Enjoy! :)


24: Day 4: Hour 10: 4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.


Previously on 24...


The San Gabriel Island nuclear reactor begins to melt down. An engineer contacts Counter Terrorist Unit and explains that the radiation would spill into the atmosphere and spread until the core exhausted itself.


Paul Raines confronts Audrey Raines about her relationship with Jack. Paul says he thought they were trying to work things out, but she says he kept putting it off. Audrey reveals to Jack that she told Paul she was filing for divorce


While being interrogated by Erin Driscoll, Sarah Gavin insists that she had been set up.


Jack Bauer and Tony tracks down Henry Powell, the man who helped the terrorists obtain the Dobson Override Device. As soon as they take Powell into custody, he is killed by a sniper. They trace a number from Powell's cell phone to the hotel where Dina is hiding with Behrooz, who has gone to a hospital to get pain medication for her gunshot wound. Dina agrees to help CTU find the override in exchange for immunity for Behrooz.


Navi arrives at the hospital and takes Behrooz hostage. Dina reminds Jack that she is only helping him to save Behrooz. She warns him that if Navi kills Behrooz, she will happily let the reactors melt down.




4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.

4:00 P.M.

Jack briefs Heller, Driscoll and Audrey over the phone on the situation. He asks for a thermal SAT to scan the underground part of the building for two bodies.

4:03 P.M.

Navi drags Behrooz through the tunnels to a hospital laundry room. He calls Marwan to tell him that Dina has been captured by government agents who are surrounding him. He thinks she won't tell them anything as long as he has Behrooz hostage. Marwan says he needs an hour or two to melt down the remaining plants because CTU is blocking him from doing them all at once.

4:04 P.M.

Driscoll tells Jack that two thermo readings have popped up in the laundry room of the hospital. There's a chute that leads to that room from the third floor. Jack requests a rappelling harness.

4:05 P.M.

Upset over his mother's death, Edgar becomes lax in his work but Driscoll says that she is depending on him. Edgar thinks his programmers can slow down the Override but they cannot stop it completely.

4:06 P.M.

Curtis wheels the dead body of Powell into the interrogation room where Marianne is being held. He tells her that the same people want her dead. Marianne agrees to talk, but she doesn't know any facts about Powell or the terrorists. She does know that Powell kept the names of his contacts on his office computer. However, her thumbprint is the only thing can access it.

4:09 P.M.

Jack tells Dina that Behrooz is still alive. They need her to call Navi to distract him.

4:10 P.M.

Jack rappels upside down into the laundry chute, trying not to make any noise. When he's halfway down, he radios Tony to have Dina make the call. She tells Navi that she will keep her mouth shut until he releases Behrooz.

4:11 P.M.

Jack lands in the laundry room from the chute. As the rappelling rig is retracted up into the chute, it clangs on the metal duct. Navi hears this and goes out to investigate. Jack knocks the gun from Navi's hand, but Navi fights back. Jack is forced to head butt him to get him off.

4:13 P.M.

Jack tries to take Navi hostage, but he and Behrooz get into a brawl over his gun. Behrooz fires at Navi, who is hit in the chest. Before he dies, Navi takes the same gun and shoots at Behrooz. Tony barges into the room and checks on Behrooz's condition.

4:14 P.M.

Dina is brought in and she sees her son is alive but in need of immediate medical attention. Jack demands that she tell him where the Override is, but she doesn't know. She gives him an address in the Valley where she last saw the men who took possession of the Override device. Jack orders an advance team to the site, and he has the agents bring Dina with them until they can confirm the story. Behrooz will stay at the hospital.

--Commercial Break--

4:19 P.M.

Curtis briefs the team about Marianne's claims. Although Driscoll wants Curtis to remain at CTU, Heller and Audrey feel that he should accompany Marianne to the computer site.

4:20 P.M.

Driscoll goes to see Sarah, who is recovering in the clinic. Although Driscoll believed she was innocent, she was forced to act upon the evidence from Heller. Sarah wants to go back to work.

4:21 P.M.

Curtis places a tracking chip on Marianne's ankle.

4:22 P.M.

Heller sends Audrey out to assist the local Defense Department office, which is overwhelmed.

4:23 P.M.

Sarah returns to her workstation and Edgar brings her up to speed on the Marianne situation.

4:24 P.M.

Jack and Tony arrive at the address that Dina provided, meeting up with the CTU backup team. They raid the house, which is empty. Jack finds a hidden basement that contains schematics of the nuclear power plants, passenger manifests from the train that was bombed and surveillance photos of Heller and Audrey. Jack is in the background of one of these photos.

--Commercial Break--

4:31 P.M.

Sarah learns that the owner of the building where Jack found the hidden basement is owned by a company called Galaxy Financial.

4:32 P.M.

Sarah calls Jack to tell him that the CFO of Galaxy is Paul Raines – Audrey's husband. Sarah patches Jack through to Audrey, who doesn't believe that Paul had any part in her kidnapping. Jack wants Audrey to get Paul on his cell, but she can't give away what has been discovered.

4:35 P.M.

Audrey calls Paul, who is about to check out of his hotel. Audrey lies about rethinking their divorce and she asks him if she can come over. He gives her his room number.

4:36 P.M.

Jack orders a full forensic search of the building. He asks Tony to take Dina back to CTU, but Tony isn't sure he wants to return to where he was fired. Jack says that he has seen Tony come back to life while working on this case, and his assistance could help him get reinstated. Tony is moved, and accepts the offer.

4:37 P.M.

Audrey calls Jack and says that she must go meet Paul at his hotel. Jack insists that he meet her there.

--Commercial Break--

4:42 P.M.

Driscoll agrees with Heller approving Tony's reinstatement. Driscoll lets him know about Paul Raines's connection to the terrorists. Heller is furious when he finds out that Audrey is going alone to meet Paul at his hotel.

4:44 P.M.

En route to Powell's office, Curtis is briefed by CTU on Paul. He asks Marianne if she is knows anything about Paul, but she claims ignorance.

4:45 P.M.

As she arrives at the hotel, Audrey gets an angry call from her father. Audrey doesn't believe that Paul would try to hurt her because he is under the impression there is a chance to get back together. She hangs up on Heller.

4:46 P.M.

Tony enters CTU with Dina and assures her that Behrooz will recover. Driscoll gives Tony a badge and welcomes him back. She agrees to let Tony head up the interrogation. Driscoll walks away from Tony and asks Sarah to keep an eye on him in case he goes off protocol along with Jack. Sarah accuses Driscoll of only being nice to her to keep her as an ally. She believes Driscoll feels forced out of power by Jack and Tony. Sarah demands a promotion and her arrest expunged in return for her help. Driscoll agrees.

4:48 P.M.

Audrey arrives at Paul's room. He pours champagne and inquires about her change of heart. "I'd hate to think you were playing some kind of game with me," he says.

--Commercial Break--

4:53 P.M.

As he speeds to the hotel, Jack calls Driscoll. He requests that backup move in quickly to protect Audrey from Paul.

4:54 P.M.

Marianne and Curtis arrive at Powell's office with their backup. Curtis is suspicious, and the agents sweep the room.

4:55 P.M.

Marianne enters her thumbprint into the computer and she becomes alarmed when it asks for a second password. Suddenly, three armed men enter the room after killing the other agents. Marianne pleads that the files are still secure. They shoot her anyway, and remove Curtis's gun. An American man named Forbes questions Curtis on how far along CTU is with the investigation. Curtis doesn't answer, and the men knock him unconscious.

4:57 P.M.

As Audrey stalls for time, Paul grows suspicious and becomes violent. Jack barges in with his gun at the ready. "You set me up!" Paul yells to Audrey. Jack says that he wants answers. When Paul refuses, Jack punches him.

Fanfiction: Alternate 24 Day Three: 12:00 A.M. - 1:00 A.M.

Previously on 24...


Sherry Palmer promises to help President David Palmer with his investigation if she is released from prison immediately. Palmer agrees.

Max tells his men that Jack is now one of them. He orders Jack to break Salazar. Jack promises Salazar to keep the virus away from Max. Salazar gives Max the location, and Max orders his troops there.

At the Counter Terrorist Unit, Michelle picks up a call placed by Jack, using his cell as a one-way. Jack says out loud the location of the virus.

Chase Edmunds speaks with his team about their positions at the mine. Captain Reiss says it will take ninety seconds to move in on the mine.

Mandy tells Jack Bauer and Max that the pickup of the virus is off. Max shoots Mandy in the back.

12:00 A.M. - 1:00 A.M.

12:00 A.M.

As they walk toward the briefing room, Tony is curt with Michelle about not making any mistakes while they prepare to help Jack.

12:02 A.M.

Mandy, still alive, lies in a pool of her own blood. Max chides her for not listening. It is too risky to take her to a hospital. To end her suffering, Max shoots Mandy again to kill her. Nina says that Mandy was right -- Jack is still working for CTU. Max warns her never to mention Mandy's name again. He and Jack lead the team to the cars to retrieve the virus.

12:04 A.M.

Sherry lets Palmer know that she's leaving the office to meet someone who has information on Kingsley. "I still believe in your presidency," she says, vowing to find out as much as she can.

12:06 A.M.

Tony briefs his staff about the Posta Mita location where the virus is located. Chase will provide visual confirmation because Jack can not transmit the information. Chloe is in charge of communicating with Chase.

12:07 A.M.

In the woods at Posta Mita, Chase sets up a parabolic dish to pick up the sound. He sees Jack and Max pull up. Max orders his men to set up a perimeter. Nina tells Max that she can prove Jack is setting him up. Based on her CTU experience, she is sure that there will be a reconnaissance man watching them from the hills. Max sends two guards to check it out. Chase sees the men coming towards him.

12:08 A.M.

Adam goes to Kim's desk and notices the baby. She tells him it is Chloe's child, but Adam knows that Chloe never had a baby because he did Chloe's background check.

12:09 A.M.

Max enters the mine house and asks the captive Salazar where the virus is located. Salazar is silent. Max tasks Jack with getting the information out of Salazar. Max then radios his two men in the field looking for the sentries that Nina described. One of the men, Holt, does not immediately respond. Nina comments that the man must already be dead because CTU has gotten to him. But Holt responds, telling Max that no one is there. Max orders him to hold his position. Max doesn't see that Chase has Holt at knifepoint. Chase knocks Holt out. Jack threatens to kill Salazar if he doesn't tell Max the virus's location. Salazar tells Max and Jack that the virus is located in a heavily protected safe in the basement. Only he knows the codes to get in.

--Commercial Break--

12:16 A.M.

Chloe comes to Kim's desk to check on the baby. Kim asks who the child belongs to because Adam says it isn't hers. Chloe admits that her boyfriend, Eric, is the father. He is trying to hide the baby from his ex-wife because her new boyfriend has been abusing the child. Chloe claims that Eric has contacted a social worker. Knowing this is kidnapping, Kim suggests she report it. Chloe accuses Kim of being at fault if something bad happens when the baby is returned to her mother. Michelle interrupts them to get Chloe back to work.

12:18 A.M.

Sherry meets with a man named Kevin Kelly in his run-down mobile home. She has proof that an account was set up in his name after his daughter was killed in a car accident. Kelly embarrassingly admits that he saw Kingsley driving the car, but was paid off to keep his mouth shut about that and financial deals he discovered between Kingsley and known terrorists. Kelly agrees to share the details of these exchanges in return for the President pardoning his son from prison. Kelly's son was convicted for murder.

12:21 A.M.

Nina presses Jack about his working for CTU. He says that she doesn't know what she is talking about. Nina knows he will be killed once Max gets hold of the virus. Max comes in and tells Jack that Salazar is being resistant. Jack goes down to the basement and trains his gun on Salazar's head. Max orders a few guards in from the outside to assist Jack.

12:22 A.M.

Chase sees five guards enter the building. He radios back to CTU. Tony orders Michelle to send in the delta teams because the virus transfer is about to get underway.

--Commercial Break--

12:27 A.M.

As Chloe continues monitoring Chase, Tony gets a call from Kim. She has something urgent to speak to him about Chloe.

12:28 A.M.

Outside the trailer, Sherry calls Palmer and asks about pardoning Kelly's son. She explains that Kelly was paid not to pin his daughter's murder on Kingsley and to cover up Kingsley’s deals with terrorists. Kelly will now admit what he knows in return for this pardon. Palmer needs time to think about this and hangs up. Wayne advises the President not to do what Sherry asks because she has her own agenda. Wayne would rather send Sherry back to prison. Palmer is unsure what they will do about the Kelly pardon.

12:30 A.M.

Kim tells Tony that she thinks Chloe is delusional. Chloe lied about the baby and her boyfriend being the father. Kim looked into it, and found no abuse charges filed with Child Protective Services. She didn't confront Chloe because the woman is unstable. Tony, unfortunately, needs Chloe because she is the only one who can filter the audio streams from Chase. He doesn't want her distracted, and he asks Kim to watch the kid until the mission is over. Tony says they will deal with the baby once they have possession of the virus.

12:32 A.M.

Sherry goes back to the trailer but finds that Kelly isn't there. The place has been ransacked. She exits the trailer warily and heads for her car. As she searches in her purse for the keys, another car approaches. Sherry panics, and several men shoot at her. She runs but they catch up and taser her.

12:33 A.M.

With a gun trained to his head, Salazar opens the last of the locks. Inside the safe is a briefcase. He takes the briefcase out of the safe and shows it to Jack, Nina and Max. Salazar removes a canister from the case and hands the vial to Nina. She places the vial into a spectroscope to test the substance inside of it.

--Commercial Break--

12:40 A.M.

Chloe complains because she doesn't have enough audio filters, and Adam tries to help her out. Wayne Palmer calls Tony to chew him out about the secret mission. The Pentagon is furious that they weren't involved. The President will be forced to hold Tony, Jack and Gael accountable. Wayne asks that Tony walk him through the plan.

12:42 A.M.

Nina's spectroscope conveys that the virus is 100% verified. Max is pleased and aims his gun at Salazar. Jack pleads with Max to spare Salazar's life. They can force Salazar to hand over all his money. Max agrees and leads his group out of the mine house.

12:43 A.M.

Chase reports to CTU that Max and his henchmen are leaving the mine house. He also sends the news that Nina is holding the vial of the virus, and Tony orders the delta teams to raid the site. While Chase is relaying more information, static fills the line and CTU can't hear him. Chloe explains that she changed satellites in the middle of the operation without telling anyone. Adam begins to worry. They get Chase back on the line, to everyone's relief.

12:44 A.M.

Max and Nina get all their equipment in the trucks. She hands the vial over to Max, who in turn places it in the briefcase. Nina asks Max if he believes the operation was a success. He nods his head and Nina trains a gun on Jack, saying that he is no longer needed. Chase radios to CTU that Jack is in jeopardy. The delta teams won't make it there in time to save him.

12:45 A.M.

Nina tells Jack that she has wanted to kill him for a long time. Before Nina can pull the trigger, Chase shoots her in the shoulder. The guards open fire and Nina runs off into the woods. Jack grabs one of the guard's weapons and begins taking out the men. In the confusion, Salazar breaks free from Max and they wrestle over control of the briefcase. The searchlights from the helicopters burn down on the hillside, and Chase lets Tony know that the delta team has arrived. He runs down to where Jack is. The chopper fires missiles to take out some of Max's men. Helicopters from Max's army arrive and fire on the American choppers. Jack sees Salazar rushing off with the briefcase, and he runs after him. Chase radios to CTU that Jack is pursuing Salazar and the virus.

--Commercial Break--

12:51 A.M.

Sherry is dragged into a dank room by her kidnappers. There, a well-dressed man wakes her up with nitrate poppers. Sherry recognizes the man as Alexander Trepkos, respected oil businessman and defense contractor. She’s surprised he would be involved in Kingsley's plot to detonate a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles. Trepkos admits that Kingsley was nothing more than the shield to mask his involvement, as well as that of his superior, Max. Trepkos tells Sherry that she will soon work for Max.

12:53 A.M.

Chase and some members of the delta team catch up with Jack in the woods. Jack is relieved that Chase is all right. He directs the choppers to pursue Salazar.

12:54 A.M.

Jack and Chase come upon Salazar, who is bleeding from a gunshot. Salazar holds the briefcase, but Jack refuses to let the agents open fire. He begs Salazar to hand over the virus. Salazar complies and throws the case on the ground. Desperate, he then takes out a gun and fires on the team. Jack and Chase kill Salazar. Jack opens the briefcase, but finds no vial.

12:56 A.M.

Jack takes Chase's phone and calls CTU to tell Tony that he does not have the virus. The briefcase was empty, which means that Max has the vial. Tony lets him know that the delta teams have found Max. Jack says that Nina has also escaped. Chloe chimes in that the delta team has spotted Max two miles west of their location.

12:57 A.M.

Captain Reiss and his soldiers stop Max's truck and hold him at gunpoint. Max turns his eyes to the trees nearby, and his men open fire on the delta team, swiftly taking them out. Max smashes Salazar's cell phone, and drives away with his bodyguard.

12:58 A.M.

Adam loses Max's cell phone signal, and Michelle gets word that the delta team was ambushed. Tony gives Jack the news that Max escaped. He can not be tracked because there is no satellite coverage. Jack tells Chase that they need to find Nina.

12:59 A.M.

As he safely drives away, Max pulls out a cylinder from his breast pocket which contains the deadly virus.

Fanfiction: Alternate 24 Day Three: 12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M.

Previously on 24...


Senator John Keeler announces that President Palmer had Ryan Chappelle killed and Sherry Palmer pardoned.

President David Palmer informs the press that what Keeler alleged is true, but that he was only trying to protect the American people. A female reporter tells Palmer that he authorized a federal agent to threaten the use of torture against Stephen Saunders's innocent daughter. Carson watches the press conference with a sinister smile.

Tony Almeida is taken into custody at CTU. Brad Hammonds tells Tony that he committed treason and the best he can hope for is twenty years in prison.

Jack Bauer threatens to put Jane Saunders in the Chandler Plaza Hotel unless Stephen Saunders gives him the locations of the vials of the Cordilla virus around the country. Just as she is about to be infected, Saunders breaks.

Jack Bauer is told by Saunders that the eleventh vial of the virus is in Los Angeles. They track it to a subway station and have to lock it in once they discover that the courier is on to them.

12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M.

12:00 P.M.

Jack notifies Michelle at CTU that Rabens is still at large with the virus. He instructs her to have Saunders scan a live feed from the train station so that he can identify Rabens. Saunders tells Jack that he expects Rabens to try to escape with the virus and replicate it.

12:03 P.M.

Brad Hammond takes Tony's statement about working against the agency during the Saunders case. Tony admits to putting Michelle's life ahead of public safety and national security.

12:05 P.M.

Trepkos informs Carson that Rabens has sent a signal that he’s in distress but that he’s no longer being tracked. He trusts Rabens to extract himself from the situation, but all that’s in jeopardy as long as Saunders continues to cooperate with CTU. Carson tells Trepkos that Saunders apparently only revealed the locations of the vials and nothing else, yet. Trepkos assures Carson that he’s handling it.

12:06 P.M.

Trepkos calls a very tough-looking man and asks for an update. The man says that he’s almost at the security gate for CTU. Trepkos orders him to hurry up. His cabal’s last hope is in danger of being captured. He instructs his man to get into CTU and eliminate Saunders as quickly as possible. Trepkos warns his assassin that he cannot allow himself to be captured. The assassin understands and hangs up.

12:07 P.M.

The assassin walks past the security gate at CTU. When the guard demands the assassin to stop, he reveals a semi-automatic rifle and shoots at the guard, killing him. He then runs into CTU, shooting any guard that gets in his way. Once inside, he sprays the bullpen with gunfire, causing panic. The assassin heads to the interrogation cells. Michelle updates Jack on the development and chases after the assassin.

12:08 P.M.

The assassin finds the cell where Saunders is looking at screen shots from all the men detained at the subway. Before Saunders can identify Rabens, the assassin shoots open the lock to the glass box and shoots Saunders in the head.

12:09 P.M.

The assassin tries to escape through the back door to the cell, but Michelle is waiting for him. She holds the assassin at gunpoint and orders him to surrender. Instead, the assassin turns the gun on himself and fires. Michelle radios Jack that Saunders is dead.

--Commercial Break--

12:15 P.M.

Palmer explains to the press that he had Roger Stanton tortured in the imminent threat of a nuclear detonation. It was horrible, just like his decision to threaten Jane Saunders, but it had to be done to prevent the deaths of millions. One of the reporters screams out that Stanton was a conspirator in that plot, not an innocent child, but Palmer refuses to take any more questions. He thanks the reporters and walks off the podium, clearly rattled. The President says nothing to Wayne as he joins Joseph O'Laughlin from Homeland Security in the hall. Palmer is briefed on CTU’s status. The New York vial has just been secured, leaving only Rabens. Palmer notes that if Rabens escapes, they’ve accomplished nothing.

12:16 P.M.

Carson calls Trepkos to triumphantly inform him that Saunders was killed before he could identify Rabens. Trepkos is relieved. Now all they have to wait for is word from Rabens. But they’ve survived to fight on for another day. Palmer will fall in the election. And if Rabens escapes with the virus, it’ll only be a matter of time before they find a chemist to replicate the virus and renew their plans. Carson is still shocked that Saunders turned on them. Trepkos says that he’s disappointed too, but Saunders was loyal enough not to name who worked under him. Trepkos can appreciate that. The government will never find them, and no matter what happens with Rabens, they will rise up and achieve Saunders’s vision. Trepkos is saddened a bit, though, that it will be without Saunders, as he was the one that brought them together in the first place. He seemed the most committed of them all, single-minded in his desire to take out Palmer, either through assassination, manipulating Vice President Prescott, or today’s successful efforts. Saunders was there from the start, acquiring that nuclear bomb and manipulating the Drazens to kill Palmer, but he threw it all away. “But we live on…” Trepkos says.

12:19 P.M.

Jack secures the station and has every passenger thoroughly searched. Chase pulls Jack aside to let him know that after this mission he is transferring out of Field Ops. With a more stable job, he can look after both Kim and his baby. Jack says it's between him and Kim, but he will support whatever Chase decides.

12:21 P.M.

As the police officers corral the people in the subway station, Rabens opens up a blade and puts it in his pocket. He runs off. Jack notices that one of the men has disappeared from the line and he radios Chase.

12:22 P.M.

Jack finds two LAPD down, and he and Chase go out of the underground station. Another man lies stabbed on the street. A bystander tells Jack that the man was killed in a carjacking. Jack takes the dead man's license and radios the police. He and Chase get in their SUV. Jack calls Michelle to look up the car registration of the dead man.

--Commercial Break--

12:28 P.M.

Michelle asks Hammonds to release Tony because they are understaffed. Rabens escaped and she could use Tony's help coordinating the tactical unit. Hammonds reluctantly agrees and sends Tony onto the CTU floor.

12:30 P.M.

By scanning traffic cameras, Chloe and Adam confirm the car carrying Rabens. Jack and Chase tail him. Tony sends backup, and two CTU cars block Rabens's vehicle. Rabens gets out and runs into a school. Jack and Chase follow, and the other agents lock down the building exits. There is no sign of Rabens.

--Commercial Break--

12:38 P.M.

Rabens calls Trepkos to explain the situation. Trepkos says that he is sending a chopper to pick him up. CTU will not shoot it down because the virus would get out. Trepkos warns Rabens that their organization will be ruined if he fails.

Jack continues to search the school, as terrified students are warned to remain in their classrooms.

12:39 P.M.

Chase enters an empty science lab. Suddenly, Rabens jumps out and slashes Chase in his gun arm. Chase drops the weapon and defends himself against Rabens. He throws the man's bag across the room and the device holding the virus falls out. Nearly unconscious, Chase clamps the device to his arm. Realizing Chase just turned himself into an anchor, Rabens activates the device to release the virus. He is about to shoot Chase when Jack arrives and kills Rabens.

12:41 P.M.

Jack goes to Chase's side. The clamp on the device can not be unlocked. Jack radios Tony and asks him to contact one of the teams who have disarmed the other devices. An agent leads Jack through the steps of dismantling the device. There is less than four minutes until it activates. However, the green wire Jack needs to cut is not there because the device on Chase's arm does not match the other devices. The agent looks for another solution. Chase tells Jack to leave, but he refuses.

12:45 P.M.

Chase sees an axe in the fire extinguisher box. He urges Jack to use it. Jack is at first hesitant, but he gets the axe and chops off Chase's arm. As Chase lies in pain, Jack runs off with the device ticking away. He radios for help for his partner. Jack enters a teachers' lounge and sees a refrigerator. He throws the device inside and shuts the door. The device releases the virus into the sealed refrigerator.

--Commercial Break--

12:51 P.M.

Tony tells Michelle that he is back in custody and will be going to prison. Michelle is upset, and Tony kisses her. He is taken away.

12:53 P.M.

President Palmer phones Jack in the hospital to personally thank him for all he has done for the country. He also apologizes for making Jack take the life of Chappelle. The President tells Jack that he is not seeking reelection due to all the terrible things he had to do to stop Saunders, and he says that he hopes they can become better friends once he is a private citizen. Palmer gives a solemn look to Wayne and hangs up.

12:56 P.M.

Kim enters the hospital and hugs her father. Chase is already in surgery, and the doctors are optimistic about his recovery. Jack says that he is happy for her future with Chase. "There's some things I have to do," Jack tells her. Kim waits for Chase, and Jack leaves.

12:58 P.M.

Jack exits the hospital and gets into his SUV. The weight of the day overcomes him and he starts to cry. CTU radios, but Jack doesn't respond right away. Finally, he answers the call to help investigate Saunders's death. Jack wipes his tears and heads back to work.

Fanfiction: Alternate 24 Day Three: 11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

Previously on 24...


Senator John Keeler pays a visit to President David Palmer. He accuses Palmer of capitulating to terrorist demands, a violation of U.S. policy. Keeler demands Palmer's withdrawal from the campaign. Trepkos advises Keeler to release all the information to the public as soon as possible. Keeler holds a press conference, announcing that Palmer had Ryan Chappelle killed and Sherry Palmer pardoned.

Jack Bauer finds Tony Almeida kidnapping Jane Saunders and trying to trade her for Michelle.

The trade goes down with CTU covertly backing up Tony. When Jane runs back to Tony, Stephen Saunders exposes himself to the teams on site.

Saunders's guards are taken out, and the Marines blow up his helicopter. Saunders is captured, but refuses to cooperate.

11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

11:00 A.M.

At the Sixth Street Bridge, Saunders tells Jack that the eleven other vials are being held by men instructed to release the virus at noon. They cannot be called off. Saunders will give him their locations only if he receives a guarantee from President Palmer that he will be allowed to escape freely to North Africa.

11:05 A.M.

CTU agents take Tony into custody. Jack promises that he will do what he can for him.

11:06 A.M.

Jack asks Jane Saunders to try to convince her father to stop the virus.

11:07 A.M.

Jane approaches Saunders and begs him to prevent people dying from the virus. Saunders knows CTU is trying to manipulate him, and he explains to Jane that what he is doing will better the world. Saunders will not relent, and Jane breaks down in tears. Jack watches her run off.

11:09 A.M.

Trepkos watches Senator Keeler’s press conference in delight. Carson, his contact within the government, calls with news that Saunders has been captured. Trepkos is not concerned. Saunders’s men will go into failsafe and the national outbreak will begin in an hour. Trepkos readies his private yacht for immediate departure. Carson is concerned that Saunders will name him and Trepkos as accomplices. But Trepkos knows that Saunders would rather die than not realize his goal of the destruction of the United States.

11:10 A.M.

Jack and Saunders arrive at the Chandler Plaza Hotel via helicopter. Jack shows him the body bags full of innocent victims. Saunders is unmoved. Jack summons Chase to bring out Jane from a second helicopter. Jack threatens to send Jane into the infected hotel if Saunders does not give him information on finding the other vials. Saunders believes that Jack would not harm the girl, but Jack gives the order for Chase to send her into the building. Jane cries out for her father, and Jack warns Saunders that he will watch his own daughter die. Saunders finally gives up and says he will comply. Saunders tells Jack that the vials are tagged with GPS codes so that they can be tracked. He has memorized all eleven locator codes. Jane is removed from the hotel entrance before she can be infected.

--Commercial Break--

11:18 A.M.

With the GPS signals traced, CTU has ten of the eleven vials in their sights. Saunders confirms that the missing vial is in Los Angeles, and the courier was instructed to release the virus in a public place that would ensure the maximum number of casualties. Saunders only knows the man by an alias, Arthur Rabens. Jack has Chase bring Saunders back to CTU to work with a sketch artist to get a description of the courier. Jane is to stay at the hotel site.

11:19 A.M.

Jack phones Adam and has him search for aliases of Rabens. Adam puts Tony's replacement, Brad Hammond, on the line. Jack brings Hammond up to speed and asks him to be lenient on Tony. Hammond refuses. Jack compares Tony's current situation to what he went through a few years ago. Jack had gone rogue to save his family who were captured by Victor Drazen. It was Tony who worked with Jack and Gael to set up this operation yesterday, and Tony should now be used as an asset on the case. Hammond is not swayed by Jack's argument.

11:21 A.M.

Everyone watches silently as Tony is escorted into CTU in handcuffs. He is locked in a holding room. Hammond tells Tony that his act of treason is punishable by the death penalty. His best possible outcome is twenty years in prison. This fact sobers Tony.

11:23 A.M.

Palmer and Wayne watch as Keeler’s press conference comes to an end. The announcer confirms that a government source has backed up all of Keeler’s claims. Palmer can’t believe that Keeler would exploit a national crisis. But Wayne concedes that it’ll probably work. Everything Keeler said was true. “You gave into Stephen Saunders,” Wayne says grimly. Palmer defends his actions, claiming that they worked. Saunders was captured and surrendered the locations of the vials. Wayne agrees, but says that Keeler defined Palmer’s decisions first. Palmer wants to hold a press conference immediately.

11:25 A.M.

Jack and Chase watch a video feed as the first of the ten located couriers is taken down. The vial of virus is successfully apprehended.

--Commercial Break--

11:30 A.M.

Aboard his yacht, Trepkos assures Keeler that he won the presidency today. He applauds Keeler’s decision to bring up the “unconfirmed” release of the names of foreign operatives. The speculation alone will undo Palmer. Trepkos gets another call and hangs up. It is Foxton, the courier of the virus in Denver. He warns Trepkos that SWAT has raided his location. Saunders must have betrayed his location. Trepkos can’t believe it, but only Saunders knew how to find him. Trepkos orders Foxton to release the virus immediately. Foxton agrees, but is silenced by a SWAT sniper. Trepkos hears this and slams his fist onto the table.

11:32 A.M.

Palmer addresses the assembled press. He confesses that what Keeler alleged is true, but that he was only trying to protect the American people. Palmer explains that the details of the operational necessity to temporarily give into the terrorist’s demands will be released in the coming hours. Palmer announces that Keeler was not aware that this terrorist has since been captured and that they're now hopeful a national outbreak can be prevented. No concessions have been given since the death of Chappelle, whom Palmer calls a “brave solider” who gave up his life to protect Americans. Palmer says that the pardon of Sherry Palmer last night was necessary at the time, as she was the only one with any knowledge of the terrorists behind this plot. The price for her cooperation was her freedom and he had no choice but to reluctantly agree. Palmer accepts full responsibility for her subsequent assassination attempt. Palmer calls Keeler’s press conference a disgrace and accuses him of playing politics when the nation needs to be united in stopping the threat of the Cordilla virus. The President urges Americans to stay calm and in their homes. Palmer takes questions from the reporters. As Palmer explains that the release of the virus in Los Angeles was inadvertent and that federal agencies are handling the situation, Wayne expresses to an aide that he feels that this stopped the bleeding.

11:37 A.M.

Chase lets Jack know that two more of Saunders's men with the virus vials were apprehended, but a third courier in Denver was making a phone call when he was killed. Chloe finds that Rabens's GPS code has yielded a target. She confirms that Rabens is in Los Angeles and is on the move. Jack and Chase head toward him.

--Commercial Break--

11:42 A.M.

Michelle asks Hammond why she is being denied access to Tony. She finds out for the first time that Tony hindered the investigation by allowing Saunders to escape. She's stunned.

11:43 A.M.

CTU intercepts another two couriers. Chloe leads Jack and Chase as they follow Rabens. According to the tracking, they are directly behind the target. Neither Jack nor Chase sees a car. Jack realizes that Rabens is in the subway underground. Chloe accesses the metro system, but Jack does not want the train stopped because it will tip Rabens off. He asks her to have both an undercover team and a Hazmat team in place.

11:44 A.M.

Trepkos and Carson scramble to stop the escalating collapse of their operation. Carson informs Trepkos that they are down to just three couriers. But CTU was unable to initially track the Los Angeles courier, which means that he has the best chance of releasing the virus. Trepkos grimly tells his partner that their mission to create a national outbreak today is effectively over. Even if the couriers succeed, it will not be enough to create the national and global chaos they need. Carson begrudgingly agrees, alerting Trepkos that he has just gotten a flash that their Las Vegas courier has been taken out. The New York one is being chased by SWAT. Only the Los Angeles courier has enough of a head start to stand any chance. Trepkos says that they’ll have to abandon having any kind of outbreak today. The new objective is survival. The Cordilla virus was vital to this operation. If all the vials are destroyed by the government, then the virus is wiped out and it will set their group back many years. Thus, their only hope is for Rabens, the courier, to escape with the virus intact. Trepkos could then find a way to have it replicated and relaunch their attack against the United States and the world. The setback of Saunders’s betrayal will not be as damaging. Trepkos calls Rabens to give him his new orders.

--Commercial Break--

11:52 A.M.

Jack, Chase and a throng of agents enter the subway station. When they are in position, Chloe has the train released to arrive. Rabens's vague description is fed to the agents over their earwigs.

11:53 A.M.

Chloe alerts the agents that the target is moving off the train and is headed up the stairs out of the underground station. Chase follows, but doesn't know which man it is. Jack narrows it down to four men. When Chloe notes that Rabens has stopped, Jack sees a man looking at the subway map.

11:56 A.M.

Jack gives the order to the agents, and he kicks the man down at the subway map. Chase sweeps the man's shopping bag with a wand and discovers the transmitter is inside a pack of cigarettes. The man claims he doesn't smoke. Rabens was on to them, and he slipped the transmitter into another passenger's bag. Jack radios for the station to be locked down.

11:57 A.M.

Palmer continues to take questions at his press conference. One of the reporters tells the President that she’s just been informed by a high-ranking reliable source within Palmer’s own administration that the terrorist in question is a former MI-6 agent named Stephen Saunders and that Palmer authorized a federal agent to threaten the use of torture against his innocent daughter in order to prevent a further outbreak. The reporter demands a response. As Palmer struggles to find a proper answer, Carson watches his television with a sinister smile on his face.

11:59 A.M.

Chase reports to Jack that everyone who has exited the subway is still detained in the station. Jack orders him to start searching the trains. They can't let Rabens get away.

Fanfiction: Alternate 24 Day Three: 10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.

Previously on 24...


Wayne Palmer tells President David Palmer that because the threat level has been raised to red, people are realizing that Senator John Keeler is playing politics instead of Palmer.

Alexander Trepkos guarantees Keeler a win in the election. Trepkos tells Keeler that Palmer is currently giving into multiple terrorist demands to prevent a national outbreak of a virus.

Jack Bauer finds out that Tony helped Stephen Saunders escape custody. He seizes control of CTU.

Saunders lets his hostage Michelle speak to Tony. He then orders Tony to get his daughter Jane out of CTU or Michelle will die.

As Jack informs CTU of the change in power, Tony Almeida tasers a guard to get Jane out of the building. Chloe tells Jack that Saunders has Michelle and is using her as leverage.

Saunders tells Tony that he will get further instructions. Jack asks security to locate Tony, but they cannot.

10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.

10:00 A.M.

As the CTU staff tracks Tony through the streets, Jack heads out to find him.

10:03 A.M.

In the car, Jane Saunders questions Tony about his strange behavior. He says that he is transferring her to Division.

10:05 A.M.

From her locked cell, Michelle taunts Saunders's henchman about how he will die when the virus is released.

10:06 A.M.

Kim tells Chase that his job will always prevent him from being a good parent. Yet if Chase transfers out of Field Ops, Kim would consider staying in their relationship and helping him raise his daughter.

10:08 A.M.

As Adam watches Tony's movement on satellite, Jack follows the car.

10:09 A.M.

Jane realizes that she is not being taken to Division, and Tony finally admits that he has kidnapped her in order to get his wife back from Saunders. Suddenly, another SUV swerves into Tony's car and forces him to a halt. Jack pops out of the SUV and draws his gun. He knows that Tony only wants to save Michelle, and he understands what he is going through. Tony's renegade actions are reminiscent of Jack's past deeds. Yet Jack needs Jane to lure Saunders, and he promises that Michelle won't suffer. Tony explains that Saunders directed him to a public payphone where he will receive further instructions.

--Commercial Break--

10:16 A.M.

Wayne thinks that the White House should release a statement about the exact nature of the threat. Palmer would rather withhold the truth than cause a widespread panic.

10:17 A.M.

Senator Keeler comes to see the President. He accuses Palmer of capitulating to terrorist demands, a violation of United States policy. He shows the President a copy of his signed pardon of Sherry Palmer as well as the internal Secret Service report on the bomb threat. Keeler also accuses Palmer of authorizing the death of Ryan Chappelle and providing this terrorist with the names of all foreign operatives, although he only has the word of a source within the government. Palmer sheepishly admits that some of it is true and corrects the record, explaining that millions of lives are at stake. But Keeler counters that all Palmer has done is prove terrorism works. And Palmer’s personal decision to pardon Sherry was reckless, as proven by the bomb she brought in. Keeler calls for Palmer’s withdrawal from the campaign once the terrorist threat is resolved. He will allow Palmer to offer whatever face-saving reason he wants to give. Palmer orders Keeler out of his office.

10:20 A.M.

Arriving at the phone booth, Jack orders Tony to reject the location Saunders chooses. Making him pick a secondary location will allow Chase time to get a team in place. Tony goes to the phone.

10:22 A.M.

Jack listens in as Tony takes Saunders's phone call. Saunders gives Tony a location to deliver Jane, but Tony claims that area is in a CTU satellite area. Saunders refuses to change, and Jack hangs up the phone. Tony is furious, but Jack knows that Saunders will call back because he is desperate to get his daughter. Tony accuses Jack of jeopardizing Michelle because she would merely be an acceptable loss. "Didn't you learn anything from what happened to Teri?" Tony asks. Jack angrily pushes Tony. Suddenly, the payphone rings and Tony answers it. Saunders offers up a new location.

--Commercial Break

10:28 A.M.

Chase briefs his tactical team on the position under the Sixth Street Bridge where Saunders is meeting Tony. Kim asks him to be careful.

10:29 A.M.

Chloe tells Kim that Chase won't leave Field Ops to start a family with her. He's too much like Jack. Kim brushes her warning aside.

10:30 A.M.

Keeler calls Trepkos and tells him that he made his offer to the President, but Palmer angrily ordered him out of the room. Keeler gave him until the terrorist threat was over to make his decision and is sure that he’ll drop out. Trepkos warns Keeler that his source thinks that the threat won’t be resolved until long after the election. The government is hiding it well, but the virus has already been released in Los Angeles. There are quarantine zones sprouting up everywhere. Trepkos recommends that Keeler release all this information to the public as soon as possible. “If you do, you will be the next President of the United States,” Trepkos declares. Keeler seriously considers it.

10:32 A.M.

As they head to the bridge, Jack calls Chase to give him a plan of attack. Jane asks Jack if her father will really kill innocent Americans with the virus. Jack explains that Saunders thinks the country betrayed him even though his job required him to make impossible sacrifices.

10:34 A.M.

Michelle screams from the holding cell. Saunders's henchman comes in to find her with a bloody nose. He's frightened when Michelle says that she has contracted the deadly virus. The man radios Saunders, but Michelle knocks the guy out with a brick. She had bloodied her own nose to scare him. Michelle grabs his gun and cell phone, and runs off. Saunders goes after her.

10:35 A.M.

Michelle can't get any service on the phone in the underground fortress. She finds her way to daylight, but hits a fenced-in dead end. Michelle calls CTU, but Chloe can't hear her. There's only static. Chloe hangs up.

--Commercial Break--

10:41 A.M.

Palmer tells his brother about Keeler finding out about his actions over the past twelve hours and blackmailing him. Wayne is enraged and wants to find Keeler’s clearly high-ranking source. But Palmer calms him down, saying that they knew they’d have to deal with the repercussions of his decisions during this crisis. All Palmer cares about now is preventing millions of Americans from being killed. Fighting for his political future will have to come another day.

10:43 A.M.

Jack and Tony arrive at the bridge where Chase has his strike team in place.

10:44 A.M.

Kim connects Jack with Michelle, who has gotten away from Saunders. But instead of picking Michelle up, Jack wants her to be recaptured by Saunders so that he will have a reason for an exchange. Tony tries to get Chase to send a team to her, but Jack forcefully has Tony taken away. Michelle takes Jack's order, and tosses the gun and phone. She runs back and Saunders finds her.

--Commercial Break--

10:50 A.M.

Waiting anxiously for word on the CTU operation against Saunders, Palmer expresses his guilt, feeling that everything that has happened today was his fault. Palmer authorized Operation Nightfall and now Saunders wants revenge on him and the United States. Wayne assures Palmer that Saunders made his own decision. They are interrupted by an urgent call from Palmer’s press secretary. Senator Keeler is holding a press conference. Palmer sighs as he walks with Wayne to the television. Keeler announces that the country is currently under threat of a mass outbreak of the Cordilla virus, with parts of Los Angeles already infected and under quarantine. He then explains that Palmer had Ryan Chappelle killed and Sherry Palmer pardoned in vain efforts to prevent this outbreak.

10:52 A.M.

As Chase's team lies in wait at the bridge, Tony asks Jack to do what he can to save his wife. The convoy carrying Michelle arrives at the spot where Tony is with Jane.

10:55 A.M.

Michelle and Jane pass each other as they walk to the opposite sides. Jack refuses to send the team in until he has a visual on Saunders. Jane hesitates out of fear and starts to go back toward Tony. Saunders gets out of one of the cars to show himself to her. The SWAT team opens fire, as does Tony.

10:56 A.M.

Saunders is shocked to see his plan backfire, and he runs into a riverbed toward a waiting helicopter. Jack takes off after him, but is fired at by the men in the chopper. Jack calls in for air support.

10:57 A.M.

The Marines arrive in F-18 fighter jets, firing missiles at the helicopter. It explodes, and sends Saunders blown backwards by the blast.

10:58 A.M.

Jane watches as Tony reunites with Michelle.

10:59 A.M.

Amid the wreckage of the helicopter, Jack pulls his weapon on Saunders and demands to know where the other unaccounted vials of the virus are. "You can waste time trying to break me and kill millions of people," Saunders says to Jack. "Or you can give me what I want."