Confusion seemed to be the rule of the day. The radio was exploding with the communication from the officers on the southern front. Every few minutes a new set of coordinates were called in for artillery strikes. Ellison was quick to send the coordinators to the artillery officers. John had sent Savannah to make sure that the noncombatants were relocated to the deeper, more secure levels of the bunker.

"What does Martin report on the northern front?" John asked as he paced back and forth.

"Minor Medal movement. He reports that they have tested his line but it is nothing he can't hold. His reserves have yet to see the front." Ellison answered as he moved pins on the map.

"What has Derek said?"

"He hasn't checked in since ordering in the artillery. My guess is that there is something wrong with his radio. Judging from the amount of activity we are hearing from his front, I would guess that he is tied up right this second. There have been some chatter about Derek moving about the line."

John leaned over the map when the doors were pushed open and the TechCom sergeant rushed in. He saluted before making his report. "Sir, both of our west and west fronts report no movement. Colonel Huss is asking permission to re-enforce the southern lines."

"Yes, send the Colonel orders to meet up with Derek and redeploy his soldiers." John ordered.

The aid-de-camp saluted and rushed from the room to deliver John's orders to a runner. It wasn't a minute later when Alison entered the room. She was filthy and out of breath.

"Sir," She saluted. "Derek reports heavy confrontation on his front. He doesn't believe we can hold out if we don't redeploy our forces. Also, his radio was destroyed in the action and he is requesting a new one."

John nodded his head. "Colonel Huss is moving his people alongside the southern line. That should give Derek another three hundred soldiers to deploy." John began pacing again. He stopped and looked down at the map. "Ellison, stay here and take over for me. As soon as Weever gets the equipment up and running, send for me."

John picked up a radio and attached it to his belt. he fumbled with an ear piece for a moment before he had that attached as well. Moving to the far wall, he picked up one of the spare rifles that was left there.

"And where will you be?" Ellison asked.

"On the front. We need to buy a few more hours. Redeploy the troops as you see fit."

"God's speed."

John ducked as something exploded overhead. He felt the dirt and pebbles shower his head before he stood back up and continued down the maze of trenches. Alison was just a few feet ahead of him. He continued to follow her until she stopped and pushed herself up against the wall of the trench.

"General!" Alison hissed, using her hand to tell him to get down. "Get down sir."

John dropped down next to her. She held a finger up to her lip and then pointed above. John pushed away from the wall and looked up. He felt his breath leave his body as he spotted a T-600 moving above the trenches. Its head moved around and then fired at something John couldn't see.

Somewhere in the distances, something exploded and someone screamed.

Alison pulled John back against the wall. He looked at her and began feeling his body shaking. It was time to see what John Connor was made of. John reached into his pocket and pulled out a grenade. Alison shook her head, her eyes growing in size. John nodded his head and took a deep breath.

Pulling the pin, John stepped forward and stood up. With a simple toss, he rolled the grenade in-between the Machine's legs. The T-600 stopped and looked down at the explosive and then looked up slowly until it's eyes fell on John. It raised its weapon when the grenade went off. John was forced to duck again as dirt and bits of medal rained down around him. John looked up to see the T-600 without its legs. John raised his rifle and destroyed the chip.

"Where the hell did that one come from?" Alison asked as she joined John.

"They must have broken through our lines." John moved towards the earthworks ahead of him. He crawled up them so he could see up. "Yeah. They've broken our lines."

"How bad is it?" Alison asked.

"They are entering the front of our trenches. Seems that they are entering the trenches and slaughtering our soldiers." John looked to the left. "Derek and Kyle are over there. We need to move quick. It is going to take Colonel Huss some time to redeploy his people. We need to buy him that time."

Alison took the lead as she rushed though the trenches. John was close behind her. The closer they moved to the action, the loud the explosions became and the more screams they could hear. As they rounded the corner, Alison and John were confronted by several dead TechCom soldiers. The ground around them was covered in their fluids. Alison stopped, her body shaking slightly. John placed a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her past the bodies.

"You alright?" John asked.

"Yes…"Alison said taking deep breaths. "I've just seen too much of this—"

Alison shoved John to the ground. John felt the breath knocked out of him as he landed. Rolling over, John could see another T-600 moving up the trench. Alison was sending burst after burst of at the tin can. John reached for his rifle but couldn't find where it had landed.

"Fire in the hole!" Someone shouted.

Before John could react, he felt Alison jump on top of him. The ground shook and sharp bits of terminator and dirt scattered around what little of him was exposed. Once everything had settled around him, John turned around to find Alison's face above his own.

"Are you alright?" John asked.

"I think so. Are you?"

"Yeah. I seem to be in one piece. Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

"Damn. Would you two get a room already?" Derek said as he moved to kneel next to them. "I sent you to get me a radio, Alison, not to bring me the only man who needs to survive."

Alison quickly pushed off of John and stood up. "Sorry, sir. Colonel Huss is moving up behind us and we need to buy him some time."

"Good." Derek said. He looked down at John. "You alright?"

"Yeah. I'm good." John brushed himself off before locating his rifle and standing up as well. "What is going on, Derek?"

"They overwhelmed our front lines with their numbers. I was forced to move into the trenches. Right now, our flanks are crumbling and I don't know how much longer—" Derek gave a shout and blood sprayed out from his left shoulder all over John.

Kyle caught his brother. John and Alison reacted in a different manor. Both of them raised their rifles and dropped the Medal that had snuck up on them. It was Alison who fired the final burst.

"I'm alright." Derek snapped as he pulled a bandage out of his pocket and began covering the bleeding shoulder. "As you can see, John, we have Machines all over the damn place. If we can find a way to retake some of the trenches, we will stand a chance to hold them back. Unfortunately, my troops are panicking. They would rather get out instead of hold their ground."

"Ok." John said as he crawled to the top of the earth works. He stuck his head out but pulled it back immediately as a couple of slugs send dirt flying in the air. "Derek, Kyle, find whatever officers you can and have them turn the soldiers around. Alison, give Derek that extra radio."

"Kyle." Derek said quick. "Move down our line and find where Colonel Santiago is. Tell him to move his men to the extreme right of our line. I want him to reform a new line in those trenches and then move forward and create a new front for these bastards to deal with. I want to cause some confusion among the enemy ranks. Alison—"

"Alison is with me." John said quickly.

Derek hesitated before nodding his head. "Right. I'll moved over to the left and see if I can't knock some sense into our people. John, you be careful. Alison, take care of him."