Ep 2. The Fortress

The episode "The Fortress" of the TV series Flashpoint Season 2 opens with a group of armed robbers taking hostages in an office building in downtown Toronto. Among the hostages is a high-ranking executive of a tech company, whose expertise in designing unbreakable encryption algorithms has made him a target of cyberterrorists.

As the SRU (Strategic Response Unit) team arrives on the scene, they quickly realize that the building has been turned into a fortified fortress, with impenetrable security systems and booby traps. The team's leader, Sergeant Gregory Parker, orders the team to take a cautious approach in order to save the hostages and disarm the robbers.

The situation becomes more complicated when it is revealed that the leader of the robbers is a former military sniper named Mark Taylor, who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after serving in Afghanistan. As the SRU negotiator attempts to establish contact with Taylor, she realizes that he is not interested in the money but rather in the publicity that this high-profile robbery will generate.

Meanwhile, tensions rise inside the building as the hostages become more and more desperate to escape. One of them, a pregnant woman named Sarah, goes into labor and requires urgent medical attention. The SRU team realizes that they need to act quickly in order to save both Sarah and her baby.

As the negotiations with Taylor become more complicated, the team decides to use a bold strategy to take down the robbers and rescue the hostages. The plan involves the use of explosive charges to breach the building walls and create a diversion, allowing the SRU team to enter undetected.

The plan works, but not without casualties. As the robbers put up a fierce resistance, the SRU team engages in a shootout, resulting in injuries to both the team members and the robbers. In the end, however, the team manages to save all the hostages and bring the robbers into custody.

"The Fortress" is an intense and action-packed episode that showcases the complex tactical skills and emotional intelligence of the SRU team. It also touches on important themes such as the consequences of PTSD, the ethics of encryption, and the value of human life. Overall, it is a riveting episode that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.