The House Special Subcommittee's Findings at CTU

by Marc Cerasini

  I almost didn’t see her at first. But now it’s an image I can’t get out of my head. Teri was slumped down in a chair…. I had found my wife. I found her …

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  FINAL ANATOMIC AND FORENSIC SUMMARY

  CASE #: 01-109

  SUBJECT: Teri Bauer

  CTU FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST: George R. Capaldo, M.D.

  CAUSE OF DEATH:

  Cardiovascular collapse due to massive exsanguination and hemopericardium due to bullet wound of left ventricle and aorta.

  Lodging of______caliber bullet in thoracic spine.

  MANNER OF DEATH:

  Homicide

  OTHER FINDINGS:

  Endometrial decidual changes and positive clinic history of pregnancy test together with LMP: consistent with pregnancy of less than 4 weeks duration.

  Ruptured left ovarian follicular cyst, original diameter of approximately 4 cm.

  Ligature marks on both wrists.

  Negative drug and alcohol screens.

  KIMBERLY BAUER: I thought it would go away. That I would cry and cry and just get it all out, you know? But you can never get it all out because it stays with you—this terrible emptiness. Nothing is the same anymore. Not anything. Not to me.

  I can’t be with my dad now. It’s just too hard. I try not to blame him, but I can’t help it, I do….

  When I think of my mother—and I think of her every single day—I try to remember what she said to me that morning when we were being held hostage, locked in that room.

  We were scared, but we were together. And there were these rays of sunlight streaming in through the window, intense golden rays, and my mother looked so beautiful standing there…. She told me not to be afraid. She said, “We’re in this awful place, but I want you to know you’re not alone.” She told me that no matter how bad things get or how good they get, I should remember what a simple and powerful thing her love for me was … that it would never change … that it would never end.

  And you know, when I think about it now, I know it’s true, because I close my eyes and I can feel her love. It’s still with me. So I guess if my mom’s love is still with me, then she is, too.

  SUBCOMMITTEE’S

  CONCLUSIONS

  by Special Subcommittee Chairman

  Representative Jayce Fulbright, (D) California

  Every day thousands of dedicated men and women arrive at their posts in the intelligence and defense communities and diligently strive to safeguard the citizens of our nation. We owe our thanks to the unflagging dedication of these agents, officers, administrators, and staff workers in the Department of Defense, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence and National Security Agencies, and Secret Service.

  When any intelligence failure occurs, especially those that result in death, emotions run high. Regrets and recriminations lead to inevitable questions: Could this have been prevented? Who is to blame?

  This nation’s forefathers designed a government of checks and balances, creating mechanisms such as this special subcommittee to conduct fair hearings and investigations into such questions, including alleged wrongdoings in the powerful and separate executive and judiciary branches.

  As we conclude these hearings, we are acutely aware of the security challenges facing this nation. In light of the serious threats on our horizon, we need to rise above pettiness and finger-pointing, and move ahead to aid the aforementioned agencies in focusing on the task at hand—protecting this nation’s people and ensuring the security of the ideals on which it stands.

  In that spirit, this subcommittee would like to commend Special Agent Jack Bauer. His tireless efforts saved the life of our presidentelect, David Palmer, and exposed a dangerous spy in the intelligence community. It is this subcommittee’s conclusion that Agent Bauer restored the security and Integrity of the CIA’s Counter Terrorist Unit.

  Agent Bauer’s alleged violations of procedure, protocol, and even laws were here fully examined and explained. His honesty and openness about his actions and his motivations are appreciated by this subcommittee, and we thank him for his thorough testimony, some of which was clearly painful for him personally to relive.

  We would also like to commend CTU Agent Tony Almeida, whose dedication, loyalty, and bravery are more than apparent. We regret to find that one of his most admirable virtues, his loyalty, was used against him by a highly skilled double agent named Nina Myers, working against this country.

  Agent Almeida’s honest testimony in these hearings is evidence of his willingness to redeem himself in working toward uncovering the further objectives of Nina Myers and her associates and tracking down any other willing parties who may have been involved in her espionage.

  Both of these men, Jack Bauer and Tony Almeida, were compromised by Myers. However, this subcommittee does not find them guilty of any criminal violations. We recommend that they be released from any further charges in these matters.

  This subcommittee cannot in good conscience offer similar commendations to the regional office of CTU, whose management at times obstructed this subcommittee’s investigation and whose actions clearly hampered the efforts of Special Agent Jack Bauer as he attempted to stop an assassination conspiracy.

  In addition to the above findings, a number of troubling revelations have come to light during these hearings, among them:

  That a spy is still actively operating in the upper levels of the intelligence or defense community

  That a traitor or conspiracy of traitors intentionally compromised Jack Bauer’s entire Delta unit, which led to the deaths of six Special Forces operatives on foreign soil

  That the Department of Defense is operating a covert underground prison system on American soil to detain international fugitives

  This subcommittee has turned these matters over to the Joint Congressional Intelligence Oversight Committee for further investigation.

  This concludes the findings of this House Special Subcommittee. These hearings are hereby closed.

  JACK BAUER

  Special Agent Jack Bauer’s provisional reinstatement as acting director of the Counter Terrorist Unit, Los Angeles, was revoked at midnight on Super Tuesday. The next day’s national press credited Bauer with saving David Palmer’s life, and the subsequent publicity discouraged Bauer’s superiors from filing disciplinary or criminal charges of any kind against him. The Justice Department investigated the CTU, including Bauer’s actions, and exonerated him. However, Congress insisted on holding its own separate hearing as a check on the executive branch. After the death of his wife, Bauer needed some time away. CTU listed his status during that time as inactive. He has since returned to CTU on assignment. Details of his current mission remain unspecified by the division.

  KIMBERLY BAUER

  Devastated by the loss of her mother, Kimberly moved out of the Bauer home, taking a live-in job as an au pair with a young family.

  NINA MYERS

  Special Agent Nina Myers is in federal custody. Myers is being held without bail, charged with espionage, conspiracy to assassinate Senator David Palmer, and multiple counts of murder in the deaths of Jamey Farrell, Teri Bauer, and additional CTU personnel whom she shot in her attempt to escape. Myers is considered a valuable source of information by our intelligence community. At the time of this publication, she has refused to offer anything more than a reiteration of her statement to Special Agent Jack Bauer the night she was arrested: “If you kill me, you won’t know who I work for. You think I work for Drazen, but I don’t.” Because of the level of Myers’s skill and knowledge as a double agent, CTU analysts believe she was trained by an intelligence service hostile to our nation—one that shares common interests with Victor Drazen. CTU analysts have uncovered evidence of a contact in Germany named [INFORMATION WITHHELD FOR NATIONAL SECURITY REASONS], however, further evidence suggests she is not a German agent. The list of her possible employers includes [INFORMATION WITHHELD FOR NATIONAL SECURITY REASONS].

  DAVID PALMER


  After winning the nomination for president, Senator David Palmer ran a dedicated campaign throughout the summer and fall, winning the presidency. As president-elect he is working with a transition team to ensure a smooth transfer of power in the White House after he takes the oath of office in January. Although the press continues to report and comment on the scandals in Palmer’s personal and political life, Palmer has maintained close to a 70 percent approval rating since Super Tuesday.

  SHERRY PALMER

  Sherry and David Palmer have been estranged since midnight on Super Tuesday. After twenty-five years of marriage, they officially separated shortly after Super Tuesday and jointly filed for divorce before the year’s end.

  TONY ALMEIDA

  Since the events of Super Tuesday, Agent Tony Almeida has been promoted to the position of assistant special agent in charge (chief of staff), CTU, Los Angeles Domestic Unit—Nina Myers’s old job.

  GEORGE MASON

  George Mason continues to work for CTU. He currently holds the position of special agent in charge, CTU, Los Angeles Domestic Unit.

  RYAN CHAPPELLE

  Ryan Chappelle continues to work in his position as director of the regional division office of CTU. Sources inside the CIA say he was shortlisted for a major promotion within the Agency but, in light of the special subcommittee’s conclusions, has been passed over.

  ALBERTA GREEN

  At her own request, Alberta Green has been transferred to the CTU office in Washington, D.C.

  GLOSSARY

  After-Action Review (AAR)—Group assessment and evaluation of a special operation after the mission is complete.

  Air Force Special Operations (AFSO)—Based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, AFSO is composed of helicopter and aircraft units. Its primary mission is to transport special operations units to their area of operation and to provide re-supply, support, and recovery.

  ASTRO SABER Digital Radios—A wireless system that enables the transport of voice and data information over the same channel to portable radios and data terminals in the field, eliminating the need for separate data networks. With the addition of encryption modules, data is encoded before it is transmitted over the air, ensuring that confidential information is not intercepted by unauthorized parties.

  Black Dogs—Serbian paramilitary secret police force established by Victor Drazen to “control dissent” and “quell foreign interlopers” in the former Yugoslavia. The Black Dogs were instrumental in preserving Serbian hegemony through a campaign of terror aimed at various ethnic and religious groups. At its peak, the Black Dogs fielded perhaps two hundred operatives, but their reach was long. Members were thoroughly trained by the Serbian Special Forces using Soviet tactics and weapons, and their skills were further honed under the tutelage of Victor Drazen. Their motto: “Black Dogs run at night.”

  Blowback—Intelligence term to describe when actions, groups, or individuals from past covert mission return to harm or compromise the intelligence operatives or nation that originated the mission.

  “The Blue Rose”—Secretive group of dissident Serbs enrolled at Belgrade University. The origin and membership of this group are shrouded in mystery, but the organization’s philosophy and goals were closely aligned with those of Andre Drazen.

  Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)—Intelligence-gathering agency of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, the CIA is America’s primary intelligence agency, responsible for keeping the government informed of foreign threats to national security or national interests. Charged with coordinating all U.S. intelligence activities by the National Security Council, the director and deputy director of the CIA are appointed by the president with the consent of the Senate.

  Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU)—Elite branch of the Central Intelligence Agency. The Counter Terrorist Unit operates domestic counterterrorism divisional headquarters in major U.S. metropolitan areas. The purview of the CTU is to investigate the activities of domestic or foreign terrorists inside America’s borders and to prevent terrorist attacks. CTU divisions are made up of investigative agents, intelligence agents, undercover operatives, crack tactical squads for major raids, and special agents to oversee unit activities. CTU is specifically set up to coordinate activities with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Justice Department, and the Secret Service as well as local authorities. As a branch of the CIA, CTU operations are overseen by both Congress and the Executive Branch of the federal government.

  Defense Intelligence Agency (DLA)—Department of Defense combat support agency. The DIA is headquartered at the Pentagon and has seven thousand military and civilian employees worldwide. It is a major producer and manager of foreign military intelligence. The DIA provides military intelligence to the military, defense policymakers, and strategic planners in the Department of Defense and the intelligence community, in support of U.S. military planning, operations, and weapons systems acquisition.

  Ethnic cleansing—Generally entails the systematic and forced removal of members of an ethnic group from their communities to change the ethnic composition of a region.

  F/A-18 Hornet—A single-seat twin-engine jet aircraft used by both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, the F-18 is the most advanced carrier-based attack plane in the arsenal of the United States. Capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear bombs, the Hornet more commonly delivers precision-guided missiles like the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile. The F-18 provides all-weather, night and day fighter and attack capabilities.

  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)—Agency of the United States Justice Department and the principal federal criminal investigative agency. The function of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is to pros ecute cases of espionage, sabotage, subversive activities, and other actions related to national security, organized crime, white-collar crime, drug interdiction, and terrorism.

  First Special Forces Operational Detachment—Delta—Elite U.S. Army counterterrorist unit modeled after the British Special Air Service. One of the newest and most secretive components of America’s Special Forces. Little is known of this special unit’s size or deployment, but Delta teams have participated in firefights in Panama, Somalia, and Afghanistan.

  FSB—Federal Security Bureau. Post-Communist Russia’s equivalent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Once an arm of the KGB, the FSB now investigates crimes against the state committed by citizens of the former Soviet Union, including terrorism, treason, and the activities of organized crime.

  Global Positioning System (GPS)—Worldwide navigational tool formed by twenty-four orbiting satellites and their corresponding receivers on Earth. GPS satellites transmit digital radio signals that allow pinpoint accuracy in the calculation of longitude, latitude, and altitude. This system is used to monitor weather, wildlife habitation, and the movement of people and objects.

  GSG9—German intelligence. Unified Germany’s equivalent of the Central Intelligence Agency.

  HALO—High Altitude, Low Opening. One of the most dangerous types of parachute jumping, in which the parachutist is deployed from an aircraft flying at between 1,500 and 25,000 feet—approximately the altitude of a normal commercial aircraft. HALO operations involve the use of special breathing apparatus, insulated suits, and a wide array of special equipment, from altimeters to geopositioning equipment to especially durable parachutes—all in an effort to avoid enemy detection. Most members of America’s Special Operations forces are trained in this covert insertion technique.

  Interpol (International Criminal Police Organizations)—A nonpolitical, international intergovernmental body established in Vienna in 1923 to promote law enforcement cooperation among police authorities around the world and develop means of effectively preventing crime.

  Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)—Based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, JSOC is responsible for counterterrorism training and operations of the U.S. Army’s Delta Force, Navy SEAL Team Six, and elements of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Host
age Rescue Team.

  Kosovo/1389—Underground Serb nationalist organization established in the 1980s by Andre Drazen while he was an undergraduate at Belgrade University. The name was meant as a celebration and a warning—to celebrate the heroism at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 and to warn contemporary Serbs that they will someday be summoned to fight for Kosovo. Though the organization began innocently enough, printing pro-Serb pamphlets and staging street demonstrations, in time members of Kosovo/1389 were connected to more violent acts. In 1986 the government staged a crackdown, arresting several members of Kosovo/1389 and banning the organization. Andre Drazen was never arrested or connected to any crimes.

  M4A1 Carbine—Built by the Colt Manufacturing Company, the M4A1 is a smaller, more compact version of the Ml6 rifle used by U.S. troops in Vietnam. The M4A1 is a very capable and deadly weapon suitable to any Delta mission. The weapon has a rail that can be used to mount a wide variety of special scopes, an AN/PEQ-2 infrared illuminator/aiming laser, a sound suppressor, M203 grenade launcher, and more. The carbine weighs 6.65 pounds fully loaded with 30 rounds, and can fire with an effective range of over 400 yards.

  MC-130 Combat Talon—Special Operations version of the Lockheed C-130 four-engine transport airplane flown by the Air Force Special Operations squadrons. The Combat Talon is designed for day and night infiltration, exfiltration, resupply, and psychological operations. Talon missions are usually flown at night using a very high or low altitude profile. Combat Talons are also equipped with night targeting sensors and a mix of heavy weapons, including Gatling-style machine guns, and are ideal to penetrate deep into enemy territory.