The Test Case - Recap

Jim picks up his briefing on a record and is informed that Dr. Oswald Beck has developed an infectious version of cerebral spinal meningitis suited to battleground dispersal. Beck is a mercenary working for the enemy and the IMF must destroy the culture.

Jim assembles the usual team and Barney displays a balloon that can be inflated and deflated by remote control. They have to gain access to Building 14 which is a secure facility at an otherwise innocent research facility, and their plan involves a cylinder of knockout gas that simulates the effects of the bacteria. Barney plans to plant a pill that simulates death, and Jim warns that no antidote is possible and Rollin will die if exposed to the bacteria.

Cinnamon is a visiting German journalist asking Beck for an interview going to the facility where Beck is working, under the supervision of Captain Olni. Beck plans to display his work to General Kirsch, his employer, and Olni would prefer that Beck fail but plans to carry out his orders. Meanwhile, Barney slips into the facility through the roof while Cinnamon interviews Beck while Olni listens in on a bug. Cinnamon, aware they’re being monitored, secretly offers Beck $50,000 for the virus. Olni suspects something and barges in, but the bribe is written on a piece of paper that Cinnamon secretly triggers to cover the paper with legitimate info.

Jim redirects the van carrying the political prisoner to be used as a test for the bacteria. They go to a building with a fake sign and then take the men prisoner, while Rollin takes the prisoner’s plan. Jim then delivers Rollin to the correct building but Olni realizes Rollin isn’t the right test subject. Jim explains that Rollin is a replacement for Olni’s original choice, who hung himself. Jim then reports to Olni that a woman offered forced him off the road and tried to pay him $50,000 to get the bacteria. Jim explains he offered to turn the virus over to be able to arrest her, then wrangles an invitation to watch the bacteria demonstration.

Barney breaks into the building and Cinnamon makes a phone call to distract a guard so he can slip through the lab door into the test chamber, blocking it open with a screwdriver. He plants the pill for Rollin beneath the chair, then places the inflatable balloon over the gas dispersal nozzle. Cinnamon then makes another call to distract the technician so Barney can get back out then go into the chamber next door. He uses a compressed air drill to start cutting through the mortar into the shaft that leads from the test chamber to the underground chamber where the bacteria is kept. Rollin is taken into the test chamber and a sample of the bacteria is brought up using mechanical hands and a remote-controlled elevator. Barney takes the sample and replaces it with the IMF canister.

Meanwhile, a microphone in the chamber breaks down and the technician checks it… but it’s next to the grille that conceals the balloon apparatus. Rollin palms the pill then knocks out the technician as he spots the balloon, faking a panic attack. Jim escorts the technician out and contacts Barney, then drugs the technician into unconsciousness. Rollin is handcuffed to the chair, still holding the pill. They pump the (fake) bacteria into the chamber where it’s captured by the balloon, and Rollin drops the pill on the ground then collapses and manages to mouth the pill. He then “dies” and they evacuate the bacteria from the chamber. Meanwhile, Cinnamon calls to ask Beck for a second interview.

Rollin is taken out to the post-mortem room for dissection, while Beck demands his payment for the successful experiment. Olni refuses to pay him the remainder until tests confirm Rollin died of the bacteria, then confronts Beck with the fact that Cinnamon tried to bribe him. Jim goes to check on Rollin with Beck, but first triggers the balloon to release the knockout gas into the room where Olni and General Kirsch are reviewing the test results. They collapse with the symptoms and Beck realizes Rollin is still alive. He looks in the chamber and sees that Olni and Kirsch are “dying.” He evacuates the gas and goes in where Olni accuses him of being a traitor before passing out. Jim accuses Beck of selling out and the doctor goes for a gun. He brings up the bacteria specimen by remote and Barney switches it for their own. Beck then calls Cinnamon at the hotel and confirms she’s paying him, and Olni’s assistant listens in on the tapped phone. The man goes in and shoots down Beck, and Jim returns the fake dish of bacteria to the vault… where it’s rigged to explode, destroying the entire supply. Barney and Willy get Rollin out while Jim has Olni and Kirsch taken to the hospital, and then the entire team makes their escape.

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