Jack meets with the surviving Coral Snake Commando, who demands Kate Warner in exchange for evidence about the recordings. Tony and Carrie spy on Michelle when he suspects that she is working with Jack. Mike and the Vice-President turn up the pressure on Palmer, when he expresses his doubts about the impending war.

Jack is captured and tortured by men who want the chip. Kate and Yusuf run into a group of angry rednecks before they can deliver the chip to CTU. Tony and Michelle share a tender moment after her brother flips out. Palmer leans towards holding off the attacks, while Lynne discovers a secret operation that the Vice-President is planning against Palmer.

Jack finds an ally who may help him escape from Kingsley's men. Lynne meets with foul play before she can warn Palmer of the conspiracy against him. Chappelle interferes with Tony's efforts to assist Jack. Kate offers her captors money in exchange for the chip.

Palmer's cabinet invokes the 25th Amendment in an attempt to remove him from power. They place him on trial for his extreme actions during the nuclear bomb threat. Jack and Michelle work against the clock to prove that the evidence against the Middle East is false.

Jack locates the man who forged the audio evidence, but his efforts to break him down are sabotaged by Sherry Palmer, who has a hand in the conspiracy. Kim returns to the Matheson home, where she discovers that her problems are far from over. Palmer searches for an ally who will help him get a message out to CTU. Tony and Michelle take Chappelle out of action when he hinders their efforts to help Jack.

When Jack hits a dead end with his lead, he realizes he must persuade Sherry to help him get evidence against Kingsley. Things go awry at CTU when Division becomes suspicious of Chappelle's absence. Michelle goes off-site to work with Jack. Mike and Prescott ask Palmer to aid them as the bombers get closer to their targets.

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 reluctantly works with Kim on an undercover job that may help them gain an advantage over Saunders.

Palmer informs his cabinet of the crisis, while Saunders makes yet another demand.

Chase tracks down the man who left the hotel and learns that the virus is spreading to the general public.