BEWARE OF SPOILERS. Due to the nature of the show, with its many Walking Spoiler characters, twists, and turns, the only spoilers whited out are those for the current season "24: Live Another Day". Proceed with caution!
Leaders
Alan Wilson
A highly secretive American private military executive who was involved in at least two plots against his country. He was one of the highest-level co-conspirators of the Sentox nerve gas conspiracy which caused the deaths of about 200 individuals (including David Palmer and Michelle Dessler) during Day 5. Years later, leading up to Day 7, he was the most influential member of the cabal which developed the prion variant, a lethal bio-weapon outlawed by the United Nations. The prions were developed with the help of Starkwood executive Jonas Hodges and Sangalan dictator Benjamin Juma, and were used both to murder hundreds of Sangalans and later to threaten the United States. Wilson was taken into FBI custody for his connection to the events of Day 7, but American law enforcement and government officials were doubtful that any hard evidence would be found to convict him.
Tropes
- Ambiguous Situation: His involvement in Day 5 is unclear. Tony says he was. He denies it, and even denies knowing Tony. And while the guy is a huge liar, in those particular circumstances, he had no reason to do it. Aside of other elements that make his involvement in Day 5 implausible, to say the least. Not to mention Tony's state of mind is not the best. Also, what happens after. He is only mentioned once after Day 7. Although the show's producer says Renee broke him.
- Bald of Evil: He's bald and evil.
- Big Bad Duumvirate: Arguably, the Omniscient Council of Vagueness was a group of multiple Big Bads, with Wilson merely being the most influential, so he would be this with Jonas Hodges and the others shown on Day 7. Phillip Bauer would presumably have been a member of this group.
- Big Bad Ensemble: Against Tony due to Tony trying to kill him, although the extent of this isn't revealed until the end of Day 7.
- The Chessmaster: Just about all the events of Day 5, Day 6 and Day 7 are due to his machinations and collaborations; it is implied that he or his group were involved in other days as well, as Graeme Bauer- another member of this conspiracy- tells Jack that they'd try to kill him even before Day 5.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: He's the executive of a private military company who uses his wealth and resources to engage in terrorist plots against his own country.
- Dissonant Serenity: How Will Patton played him, which adds to his status as The Sociopath.
- Fatal Flaw: His trust and relationship with Cara is what draws him to the open, completely destroying his cons.
- Faux Affably Evil: He acts unnervingly polite and calm no matter what situation he's in.
- Knight Templar: Apparently, he believes in his cause to take over the American government.
- Manipulative Bastard: Wilson is the man who's been pulling the strings of numerous groups (usually groups who are in opposition to each other) while his very existence is a secret.
- The Man Behind the Man: He's described in almost exactly these terms by Tony in relation to Charles Logan, and considering who Logan's behind... he's also this to Hodges.
- Greater-Scope Villain: Wilson could be considered the Greater-Scope Villain behind Charles Logan, Christopher Henderson, Jonas Hodges and others.
- The Omniscient Council of Vagueness: He is the leader of an unnamed cabal of private military contractors who manipulate world politics.
- Put on a Bus.
- Serial Escalation: When you have a non-supernatural villain who's The Man Behind the Man to a Corrupt Corporate Executive running the largest and most powerful private military company on the planet..also Man Behind the Man to even more absurd lengths when it was revealed he was in cahoots with Charles Logan and Jack's evil father and brother, who plotted an already massive as it is conspiracy.
- Save the Villain: Jack and Renee had to prevent Tony from killing him.
- Smug Snake.
- The Sociopath: He doesn't care how many people die as long as his plans succeed.
- Soft-Spoken Sadist: He always maintains the same cool and detached tone even when he's boasting about his imminent victory.
- The Stoic: He's pretty much completely unflappable, showing no emotion at all.
Operatives
Cara Bowden
The primary intermediary for an organization of private military contractors in their plan to subvert the authority of the United States government during Day 7. She acted as the main conduit between the mutually anonymous organizers of the plot, including Alan Wilson and Jonas Hodges, and worked closely with Tony Almeida, with whom she was sexually involved. Her influence over Alan Wilson was exploited by Tony.
Tropes
- Asshole Victim: Tony may not have been a hero any more by the time he killed her, but she definitely had it coming after everything she pulled.
- The Dragon: For Alan Wilson.
- I Have Your Wife: Threatens Jonas Hodges' family to get him to take a suicide pill.
- Mouth of Sauron: She serves as this for Alan Wilson until he makes his actual appearance.
- Unwitting Pawn: Was being used by Tony all along so he could get to Alan Wilson.
- Smug Snake: Cara isn't as in control as she thinks she is.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute:
Word of God was she was originally going to be Mandy, but was created when the actress was unavailable. - You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Blackmails Jonas Hodges into attempting suicide by threatening his family to keep the suspicion off of the rest of The Omniscient Council of Vagueness. Later on the receiving end of this by Tony.
