Title: A TechCom Trainee's Journal

Chapter 1: Entries 1-6

Author's note:

The inspiration for this one came from a very entertaining story by Pjazz entitled "The Secret Diary of Cameron Baum." The format is similar (journal entries) but the story is entirely different.

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Name: TechCom Enlistee. Private #10261984

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Entry #1 - 08-03-2026 (Monday)

I have decided to start keeping a journal of my thoughts. Some of my peers have recommended this to me. They say it helps them cope with this horrible life we all live. They say it helps even more so once we complete our training, and start going on missions because your friends will start disappearing. It's a morbid and depressing idea, but it is very true. It can be very difficult to get close enough to someone to confide in them your deepest of feelings, and the chance of one of you not coming back from a battle with the machines is very high. Therefore, you write in a journal. Your journal becomes your best and only friend... at least that's what they say.

Entry #2 - 08-04-2026 (Tuesday)

Earlier today on a scouting mission, I saw a burnt out shell of a T-800 on the ground in a pile of rubble. It had multiple plasma blast marks on it, including one through its "forehead". This was the first time I'd seen a real T-800 chassis. Of course I've seen the replica model that we have in the classroom, but this was the first one I saw that was an actual combat model. They are much more frightening looking in person. I can't imagine how scary they are when their eyes are lit up red, and they are coming to kill you. It sends shivers down my spine, and now I understand why TechCom does not send us into any type of actual combat until we have completed the FULL training course.

Entry #3 - 08-07-2026 (Friday)

The speech John Connor gave to our class today for our "half-done" ceremony was very inspiring. The man is a true leader, I saw for the first time why so many people are willing to risk their lives and die for him. We all owe him so much. I understand now that we would not be here... none of us, if he had not taught us to fight back against the machines.

On another note, I can't believe we are already half done with our training! To think that in less than a year, we will be topside blasting at metal with the rest of the TechCom army.

Entry #4 - 08-15-2026 (Saturday)

Last night I think I laughed harder than I have in months. Terry "The Joker" Solomon was on a roll telling jokes and funny stories in the camp's main assembly area. It didn't take long for a big crowd to form around him. We were all wiping the tears from our eyes and holding our sore guts caused by his hilarious antics. I even told out camp Officer, Lieutenant Derek Reese that we should make Terry's official TechCom duty just to tell jokes and keep up morale. During the comedy act was one of the very few times I've ever seen Lieutenant Reese laugh out loud. It was certainly nice to forget about this horrible war for an hour or so.

Entry #5 - 08-16-2026 (Sunday)

I forgot to mention another thing that happened during Terry's funny story-telling on Friday. There was this pretty brown-eyed girl that I was standing next to. We made eye contact a few times, and smiled at each other... I can't say if it was only because we were both laughing our butts off or not though. We didn't say anything to each other, just kind of laughed together and exchanged looks, but it seemed like we had some connection... maybe I'm just being overly optimistic. I wish I would have actually introduced myself, but by the time Terry was done and I could actually compose myself to speak again, my friends kind of dragged me away to hang out with them before I could say anything to her. I'm not sure if she's in my class or not... it's a pretty big class. I'll have to look for her on Monday.

Entry #6 - 08-17-2026 (Monday)

I was a bit disappointed today when I could not locate the girl I met on Friday night. I tried looking for her before our Incendiary-Chem class started, but I didn't see her. I was ready to assume that she was not in the class at all since she looked like she may have been a year or two older than I am, but they teach everyone from 15 to 20 and sometimes even older. None the less, I was a little surprised when I was leaving for the day and heard a "Hey, you." behind me. It was her! She had been sitting directly behind me, a couple rows back the whole time. We exchanged some small talk about the comedy show, and I now I know her name. Allison.

A/N: Stay tuned for more...