In a Senate hearing Jack defends his actions with CTU; the FBI asks for his help tracking down a domestic terrorist he is familiar with; and President Allison Taylor deals with the genocide in Sangala.

In Washington DC, Michael Latham is driving his daughter when their car is purposefully struck by a black van. Latham is removed from the car by a masked man. He begs for his daughter's safety, but the masked man says he is who they want. On Capitol Hill a Senate sub-committee convenes, and Senator Blaine Mayer leads the questioning into whether or not the now-disbanded Counter Terrorist Unit was responsible for committing human-rights violations. Before the sub-committee sits Jack Bauer, who fields Mayer's questions. Bauer is asked if he engaged in the use of torture. He responds in the affirmative, but maintains that the ends justified the means. The proceedings are interrupted by the arrival of FBI Special Agent Renee Walker. Producing an FBI subpoena for Bauer, Walker is granted custody of Bauer. FBI Agent Janis Gold tells Walker that a crew they've been tracking just kidnapped Latham. She says that Latham (who works for Homeland Security) was the chief engineer for the government's Classified Infrastructure Portal. FBI Agent-in-Charge Larry Moss briefs a team about a recent rash of technology thefts committed by the same crew that now has Latham. Elsewhere, a man (Masters) tries to access air-traffic-control systems, while a bruised and bloody Latham finishes working on the final component Masters needs. At Reagan Airport, Global Sky Airlines flight 117 prepares for departure. Walker and Jack arrive at the FBI office, and she begins to brief him. She explains about the CIP firewall, saying a breach could endanger every aspect of the country's infrastructure. She tells him that one of the men involved in the domestic terror threat is Jack's ex-partner Tony Almeida; who, despite being presumed dead, was caught on a surveillance camera during one of the break-ins. Despite Jack's initial disbelief, Walker convinces him that Tony is still alive. Back at Masters' hideout, he monitors GSA 117's departure on a screen as Tony Almeida steps from out of the shadows... obviously in charge.

At the White House President Allison Taylor watches a news report about General Juma and the continuing genocide in Sangala, Africa. She prepares to meet with the Joint Chiefs to formulate an attack strategy. She and Chief of Staff Ethan Kanin discuss how she is coping with the recent death (and apparent suicide) of her son. Almeida and Masters continue to hack past the CIP firewall, and get into the air-traffic controllers' system. While their incursion goes almost unnoticed by the controllers, a brief apparent power surge causes concern. In Agent Walker’s office she continues to present Jack with her case against Tony. Bauer can't believe his old friend has turned against the US, and thinks there must be some other explanation. Meanwhile, word comes in about the possible breach of air-traffic-control security, and Moss alerts the White House. Walker tells Jack his only job is to help locate Tony. She introduces Jack to FBI analyst Sean Hillinger, who shows him all the data they've collected regarding the technology thefts. In the Situation Room President Taylor discusses Sangala invasion strategies. The meeting is interrupted by Tim Woods from the Department of Homeland Security, who reports on the possible breach of the CIP firewall and the resulting vulnerability of air traffic.

In the White House President Taylor's husband Henry gets a call from Chuck Tollins, a private investigator hired to look into Roger Taylor's supposed suicide. Tollins says Roger's girlfriend Samantha recently received $400,000, which could be suspicious. Henry says he'll speak with her about it. At the FBI Jack repeatedly goes over the collected data with Hillinger, who grows increasingly weary of Bauer's repetitive examination of the files. Realizing Tony and his crew would have needed forged access cards for their break-ins, Jack accesses old CTU files, and finds the name Gabriel Schecter: a former associate and acquisitions expert he and Tony both knew. Determining that Schecter arrived in Washington shortly before the thefts began, Bauer suspects he's their best lead. Moss begins to call for a warrant, but Jack says there's no time: Schecter will just call his lawyer and stall the investigation. Moss expresses disdain for the way Bauer operates, but Walker convinces him that in the interest of time, they should do things Jack's way. She promises to keep Bauer under control, and Moss reluctantly agrees. She and Jack head out.

Arriving at Schecter's office, Walker tells her FBI backup to wait outside while she and Jack go in the building. In the hallway Jack tells Walker that Schecter probably won’t willingly talk. She reminds him this is an FBI operation, and they do things legally; she tells him it's okay to threaten Schecter, but use of physical force will not be tolerated. Walker knocks on the office door, and identifies herself. Schecter lets them in, reassured that he can hold her responsible should Jack get violent. Walker asks about Almeida’s whereabouts, but Schecter says he thought Tony was dead. Jack says they're not interested in anything Schecter himself may have done. Walker warns that if he doesn't help them locate Tony, he could be considered a co-conspirator in a terror plot. Schecter denies any wrongdoing, and tells them to leave. Schecter's armed associate begins to forcibly show them out, but Walker disables him and pulls her gun. Jack asks again about Tony, but Schecter is tight-lipped. Jack looks to Walker to see how she wants to proceed; she tells him to do whatever it takes. Jack grabs a pen and moves in, poised to stab the cowering Schecter in the eye. Schecter says he'll talk, but his words are cut short by two bullets which pierce the window glass, and hit him in the chest. Pinned down inside, Jack sees the shooter on the roof across the street; Walker radios her FBI backup, who mobilizes towards the building. Schecter's phone rings, and Jack answers: it's Tony. He tells Jack to stay away, and hangs up. In the cockpit of GSA 117, the pilots receive new course headings from Tony. At air-traffic control they realize they've lost contact with the flight. Something is interfering with their communications. Air-traffic supervisor Paulson notifies the FBI that the approaching 767 is not under their control.