CH 77

The first person Cameron contacted was John Henry. Surprisingly, all he knew was the terminators were made, schooled, then were sent to her for their mission training. Catherine hadn't supplied him with any details about the financial arrangements. That by itself was not suspicious, because John Henry dealt in tech and facts, not money.

Cameron then tried to call Catherine herself. Getting only her office, Cameron left a message for her. She then contacted General Watson and sent the message it was vital she talked to him.

This did get a response only a half hour later. General Watson called her back.

"What is it, Cameron?" Watson asked.

"General, I must ask what the status of the terminator company is. They are under the impression that the army owns them. This is not good, General. I told them to collect facts and keep calm, but I do need to know, what was the arrangement you made with Mrs. Weaver on these terminators use?"

There was a pause. "I believe that is was the standard procurement procedures. The army bought them from Mrs. Weaver. Is that a problem?"

"It could be a very big problem, General," Cameron stated. "These are not just machines, they are sentient and they do have their own will. I don't think I have to tell you the danger of trying to hold those terminators as slaves."

"They could rebel."

"Yes, violently so, and they would be correct in doing so. General I talked to a couple recently, they are confused. They want to know their status. I can tell you that if the army thinks of them as possessions, Congress has passed a law that AI's are considered sentient beings with all the rights every human has. I don't know, and don't care what the deal between the army and Mrs. Weaver is, but those terminators do need to know they have rights and no matter how much the army paid for them, they are not possessions. They are not slaves. I ask you to help me stop a crisis before it gets started."

"Yes, this could turn out badly if it's not handled carefully," he agreed. "I'll have the lawyers look into this immediately."

"Please do so and keep in touch." Cameron replied. Her next task was to find out where the terminators barracks were.

.

Nashville wasn't as cool as the Coach thought. Getting off the plane it was a near perfect 76 degrees. It was still mid morning and the game was tomorrow, so the team had time to do a little sight seeing after they got their hotel rooms.

Nashville was the Country Music capitol, and it showed. Signs sported fiddles, guitars, cowboy hats and boots. Joan found a boot shop and bought a pair of red leather, sequined boots. They were only just above ankle high, but she thought they were awesome. She also got a white wide brimmed hat that had a red band around the base what also had silver sequins on it. She thought it matched her boots just fine. At a place called 'The second fiddle', Joan, Allison, Bob, Roberta and Patty had a late lunch and noted there was square dancing tonight. It also had a poster showing the acts coming to the Grande Ole Opry though the month and another showing this weeks acts at a few bars. It seemed like every place had musicians playing or square dancing planned for Friday nights.

Of course, the radio played nothing but Country songs. Anyone who didn't like Country music had to be twitching in irritation.

Since they had never square danced before, Joan and Bob went back that night to watch. Allison, Patty and Carla (in their new hats and boots) went to one of the shows.

Unlike during the day, the Second Fiddle had a fairly large crowd. The dance floor was at the end of the bar. With this many people around, Bob knew they wouldn't see much if they sat in a booth, so they took stools at the bar. There were two bartenders working, and it still took time for one of them to come over so Bob and Joan could order.

"This looks like a popular place," Bob noted.

"For sure. Live music for the square dancing too," Joan said, pointing out the stage for the band.

"Excuse me, are you Joan Connor?" a man asked eagerly as he came up to her. The woman beside him was grinning like a fool at seeing Joan.

"I am," she said, wondering who here would know her.

He motioned to the woman and said, "This is my wife, Doris, I'm Charlie. We've been watching a couple of your games."

"You are awesome," Doris gushed. "It's fun watching you play." She held out a little pad and a pen. "May I have your autograph, please?"

"Me?" Joan asked, surprised anyone would want something she signed. "It's not a blank check, right?"

The couple laughed. "No," Doris assured her. "I got Kathy Warren's signature and her picture. She's the quarterback for our Nashville team. She's got to be pretty nervous about tomorrow's game now that you're here."

Charlie said, "Our home team isn't bad, but they got too many rookies on the field. Not enough experience to take on the better teams. They sure don't have a package of dynamite like you."

Joan signed the paper 'to Doris and Charlie'. Bob agreed to take a picture of them standing on either side of Joan. Little did Bob or Joan know that this was the rolling rock that started a landslide.

Many guys thought women's football was fun to watch, it was exciting and good eye candy. Hearing that Austin's quarterback, Joan Connor, was here, several guys and couples wanted autographs and pictures. Joan obliged them, wondering when the square dancing was going to begin.

.

Allison was laughing so hard she was loosing her breath. Carla was splayed on the table chuckling, and Patty sat on the floor where she'd fallen out of her seat. They didn't remember the name of the singers on stage, but both the man and the woman were singing with long 'woodies' poking their pants out. They began another song.

I fucked Dollie Parton and I fucked Lotetta Lyn.

I fucked Barbra Mandrell and I fucked all of her kin

I fucked Mini Pearl! I fucked Elvis Presley's little girl.

I fucked the Judds.

Hell yeah!

My Country boner, it won't go down

It won't go down, It won't go down,

My boner, my boner!

My boner won't go down.

While they sang, Patty crawled back up into her seat, giggling her head off. Seeing Carla gripping the table like Spiderman as she chuckled helplessly, Patty pointed and tried to speak. The couple on stage sang about double-teaming Gretchen Wilson on her porch, danced and clacked their woodies together, and Allison lost it. She dropped out of her chair to cackle on the floor. Patty's attempt to sit up failed, Her legs too weak with the amusement of seeing Allison topple.

They were having a good time.

.

It was crowded at the end of the bar around where Joan and Bob were. As for drinks, besides the first ones they bought, more just appeared. While there was square dancing happening on the dance floor, Charlie and Doris was explaining to Joan and Bob how to square dance. Once they had the moves down, they were guided out into the next square to dance. It wasn't a fast or complex dance, all they had to do was listen to the caller. Actually, Joan thought it was a good dance when you had a buzz on. They danced, drank and had fun. At the end of the night, Bob and Joan were poured into a cab by their fans to get back to the hotel.

.

Thankfully, Joan used her nanites to soften the ache on her head when she peel herself away from Bob to get up. Allison was still out too. "Come on guys, game day!" she said with a groan.

Bob opened an eye. "Already?" he asked grumbled.

"Let's do the fall back thing, push the clock back an hour," Allison mumbled.

"Sorry, time to get ready to go crash into people."

Joan's aches were fading away as she had reactivated her nanites. Walking into the shower, she stuck her head under the hot water. Yeah, that felt good.

Bob and Allison weren't as such bad shape. Not being able to control their nanites, they were all healed up from their adventures when they slept. Bob got in the shower and washed Joan's hair for her. Allison was coming in, Joan rinsed off and got out so Allison could get in.

Allison let out a giggle and sang:

I fucked Willie Nelson, I fucked him deep inside

I fucked Elvis Presley in the bathroom where he died...

Joan and Bob stared at her. "Allie, just what were you doing last night?" Joan asked.

Allison laughed. "It's a song this couple sang on stage. They were hilarious! We were literally rolling on the floor!"

They compared notes on their nights as they got cleaned up and dressed. They decided to go see that show with the comedy singers tonight. It sounded like fun.

They got down to the lobby to see other players also waiting for the bus. Patty was laid back in a chair snoozing. While they waited, Joan checked had bank account. $148,251. The stuff she bought had already been charged to the account. Wow, it paid to be a football player!

She elbowed Bob and showed him, then whispered, "Looks like we won't need off season jobs."

"No shit," he agreed.

Coach Baker came down and counted heads to be sure everyone was there. He wasn't happy a few acted like they had too much fun the night before. He waited until they got to the stadium and in the locker room to chastise them. They all assured him they could play.

"You better," he warned. "Now Nashville has many new players, but don't take this as an automatic win! They have heart and they are out to prove themselves. Go out there and do what I know you can do, get the ball to their end zone and don't let them near ours!"

Nashville got the ball first, Allison kicked to them. The long high ball bounced then a Nashville player grabbed it behind the goal line and took a knee before she got ran into. They strated in their 15 yard line.

Their first play was good, a concealed pass and the right side receiver got past the line and did a jog towards the center of the field, making Carla chase her. Allison saw the slim girl running fast, leaving Carla behind and took up the chase. Th girl ran her ass off, but Allison was faster and caught her on their own 23 yards line to take her down, The Nashville crowd roared with approval. That girl could run!

Seeing what happened, Allison had her squad watch closely where that ball was. This time at their hike, their quarterback jogged back for a pass and Patty was on her. Before she was hit, Kathy threw the ball into the stands.

Watching, Joan asked, "Why'd she do that?"

Coach Baker replied, "That was smart. It's an incomplete pass, not a sack. She saved her team from being pushed back 4 yards."

Joan nodded. That was smart.

The next play, a Nashville girl jumped out before the hike. False start, 5 yard penalty. They reformed, and tried again. This time when Patty broke through a Nashville girl grabbed her collar to stop her. Penalty, holding, another 5 yards back.

Joan shook her head. If they kept making mistakes like that, they would beat themselves! 4th and 20, it looked like it would be a turnover soon. It was. Nashville tried another pass and although Kathy got it off, the receiver grabbed at it and it bounced out of her hands. Incomplete pass, turnover on downs.

The Nashville coach yelled at his offensive team to get back to the benches. He didn't look happy at all.

Being far enough down the field, Joan did a long bomb, running back to their own 15, then turn and throw to Allison. clear in the end zone. Allison caught it. She stumbled, but kept a hold of the ball. touchdown, Austin.

Going for a single extra point, Joan had her line set up and on the hike, Allison and Patty pushed through the line to make a hole and Joan ran through. A defender took a wild grab at her, but only brushed her back.

7-0, Austin.

The whole first quarter was like that. Nashville did as much to hold them back as the Austin defense did, by making yard-costing mistakes. Joan wanted to scream at them herself. Didn't they go to practice? She watched Nashville make a good play, gaining 25 yards, then followed it up with a foul or false start, and one with a delay of game because that huddle took too long. That was a hard penalty to get. Then Joan would go out and get another touchdown. The score of 21-0 was partly Nashville's own fault. Joan had seen a couple times where if they hadn't screwed up, they might well have made the end zone. It made her feel a little sick to her stomach. No wonder Nashville had yet to win a game.

The second quarter was the same After a perfect pass under pressure, and the receiver caught it, A Nashville girl gabbed Carla by the hair to stop her from going after the receiver. Double foul, holding and illegal hold. Instead of gaining 30 yards, Nashville lost ten. Kathy screamed in frustration. Joan didn't blame her one bit.

If anything, in the late quarters, the Nashville team was getting worse. Coach Baker agreed to let Betty quarterback. They were ahead 84-0, and he was sure Nashville's mistakes would help them get down field. He was right. Betty made 25 yards from Nashville jumping the hike, then another ten for pass interference by trying to tackle Allison before she got the ball. Betty did manage a long throw to Allison. Allison had to chase it, but she caught the ball short of the end zone and ran it in.

At the end of the game, Joan knew that 105-0 score should not have happened. She wanted to go talk to them, but Coach Baker insisted she let it go and guided her to the locker room. Thankfully, Allison came in and said, "They are going to drown their sorrows tonight at a place called 'the three Banjos'."

Joan nodded. "We'll meet them there."

.

The Three Banjos was off the main drag on a side street. Going in after dinner, Bob held the door for Joan and Allison. Instead of the flashiness the other places they went to showed, this place was a dive. It also didn't have a cover charge like those other places did. The Nashville team were all in normal clothes in glops at tables here and there. Kathy sat at the bar alone, staring into her beer. Allison took a seat a few seats down with Bob. Joan sat by Kathy.

"I have to ask, what the hell happened today?" Joan asked.

Kathy let out a snort. "Same thing that usually happens. The newbies get frustrated and they fuck up. If it wasn't for the money ... I'd quit."

"I am so sorry," Joan offered. "If it's any consolation, You did some good plays out there. They let you down. Isn't your coach working on that problem?"

Kathy lethargically turned her head to look at Joan. The blonde's face held a lost look. "He yells and screams, it goes in one ear and out the other."

"You deserve better," Joan said vacantly. "Maybe you need a new coach."

"Yeah, we do," Kathy said. "I heard Denver coaches fine their players when they get a foul. Ours will yell and threaten, but doesn't do anything."

"Maybe you can talk to the manager?" Joan asked.

"Tried it. She's got the same attitude. Yelling at them is fine, but can't garnish their wages, or pull them off the field if they screw up," Kathy said heavily. With a sarcastic grin she added, "They are the future."

"Coach Baker would have no problem benching them in a second for some of the fouls I saw. Who owns your team? They can't be happy with the results you're getting."

"Some millionaire in New York. Probably doesn't even watch the games," Kathy said and took a drink. "We're probably just a tax deduction to whoever, or they can proudly claim they hire women. Maybe both."

Joan looked over at the gaggle, some who had their boyfriends with them. "You know, I like football. It's fun and can be exciting, and we get to go places and see new things, meet new people. I believe that is what it should be." Joan set her beer down. "Be right back." she walked over to one table of the group. She recognized the three linebackers.

"Did you know how badly you suck?" Joan announced.

Everyone at the table glared up at her.

"I mean it. We got more yards in our plays, and held your offense back just by letting you screw up. Do you know how pitiful that is?"

A bottle red head growled, "Just shut to and go away, BITCH"

"Yeah, that's a winning attitude for sure," Joan told her. "Don't admit your faults, blame them on someone else."

One of the guys, a tall one, stood up and told Joan, "You should be going now."

"You don't want to hear it either, huh? Screw trying to help your team get better, just push away anyone who might have an idea on how they can do better. Is there any one of you who likes being a loser?"

"I'm not telling you again!" he stated and stepped in front of her.

Joan grabbed his shirt, lifted him, swept his feet out from under him and pushed him back in his chair. "Sit down and shut up, I wasn't talking to you."

He jumped back up and balled a fist. He swung, Joan caught his fist and shoved him back in his chair again. This time the chair broke to leave him sprawling on the floor. "Stay down if you know what's good for you," Joan said in a growl. She noted a few girls and all the other guys were getting up.

Suddenly, Allison and Bob were at her sides. "Joan, we should go. Now," Bob stated.

Joan looked at the pack eyeing her with dark looks. "Yeah, you're right. I'm not going to waste any more breath on those who won't even try to do better." She went back to her seat with Bob and Allison bracketing her. She also noticed Roberta, Betty, Patty, Carla and Randy at a table watching her. If there was going to be a rumble, they were ready.

Joan swallowed the rest of her beer, then patted Kathy on the back. "You got my sympathies, girl. Hope things get better for you."

"WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE US DO!" a girl screamed as she strode towards Joan. "We do what we can!"

"No you don't!" Joan replied. "First off, discipline! Your team lost 40 yards due to grabbing a girl by her hair. Didn't you know that's an illegal hold? That single fuck up cost you HALF the field and possibly a touchdown! It's called practice and knowing the rules!Stop jumping the hike, that was another big problem many of you have. Go to practice and GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER! From what I saw, you all but beat yourselves in that game with the number of fouls and mistakes you made. There is no reason that score should have been that far apart. Three fuckin times, you could have had shots at a touchdown, but your own fuck ups blew it! Listen to your coach and your quarterback, she's probably sitting here by herself because she's embarrassed to be seen with you. I would be too! This wasn't the first game you ever played, but it sure as hell looked like it."

"OH! So more practice will beat you, is that right?"

Joan shrugged. "Right now that's a mystery. If you don't get your shit together, you'll never know. You'll stay on the bottom of the pile."

The tall guy walked over. Bob stepped in front of him. "Close enough," Bob said in a hard tone.

The guy held his hands up. "Easy, I just wanted to say, sorry. I thought she was coming over just to harass the girls."

"Something has to light a fire under their asses," Joan stated.

Kathy turned around and hugged Joan. "Thank you," she said.

Joan put an arm round her and patted her back. "Hey, I want to see you have fun out there, not be miserable."

Kathy smiled at her, then turned to the girls who were now all standing and listening. "All right, No day off after a game tomorrow. We get on the field and practice till we can't stand up any more, coach or no coach! Whoever jumps the hike takes a lap! Whoever makes a foul takes a lap!" She looked at the clock and said, "Finish up, we got practice tomorrow!"

"We should go too," Bob told Joan.

"Yeah, night guys," Joan said with a wave. When they left, Joan noticed the man in the corner with a video camera. Great.

.

At the meeting of the Joint Chiefs, General Watson said, "I confirmed it. The law states that sentient cybernetic beings have the same rights as humans do. By purchasing those terminators, the US Government is basically holding slaves. This is illegal and whoever signed the papers for the purchase can be prosecuted, along with their superiors. I highly suggest this situation is changed, rapidly."

"You are saying we wasted a half billion dollars of public funds?" the Army Chief asked.

"I'm only telling you what I know. I also know Cameron Connor knows about this, and if you don't take action to correct it, she will. I would rather not have the press know about a slavery lawsuit against the army," General Watson stated.

"They are machines, we paid for them!"

"They are intelligent beings, and have rights by the law," General Watson replied. "Obviously, you made a mistake. I have to tell Mrs. Connor something. Those terminators are looking to her to dig the truth out and let them know what their status is. My suggestion? burn the sale paperwork, then offer those terminators six year enlistment contracts so we can explain that part was somehow delayed. From everything I have seen, they are loyal, and with Cameron explaining the mess up, they will accept those terms."

"What does Mrs. Connor have to do with this anyway?"

"Those terminator look up to her, she is the oldest, most experience terminator. She is also a National Hero. If she tells them mistakes were made and now being corrected, they will believe her. BUT, for her to tell them that, it has to be the truth. She will not lie to them, and they know it."

"This almost sounds like blackmail!"

"This is a chance to keep ALL our asses our of the fire," Watson stated. "You know the party not in power is going to go crazy if they find out about this and demand investigations. That will get the whole country in an uproar and we will become the least popular people on the planet. We cannot afford to be seen as holding slaves!"

The Vice President spoke up. "General Watson is right. What we bought was the use of this technology, not individuals. I know the President himself will see it that way. That means get those terminators enlisted or sent to college to get commissions. General Watson, I will need to contact Mrs. Connor myself to let her know this, we'll call it a miscommunication, and it is being corrected."

"Yes, Sir."

.

Daniel did not want to go home. Last night he had his very first make-out session. It was mostly kissing and gazing, but he did get his first real breast fondling and he actually got to see those glorious orbs! He swore they glowed with their own light.

If it wasn't for being interrupted by a knock on the door, he could have gotten to taste one of those beauties. A quick reshuffling of clothes and answering the door killed that dream for now. It was only Louise, but the magical mood had been evaporated. Another long kiss and Daniel had to head off to bed feeling like he was on fire. All of his dreams were of Jackie lying beside him and showing him those luscious mounds, but they could not move together so he could properly tend to them.

In the morning he was frustrated. Then again, he was also very happy that Jackie had done as much as she did with him. They sat together for breakfast, then Jackie went up with him to make sure he was packed. He was, and was looking forward to a little more cuddling action, but Barnabas came in.

"Daniel, you ready to go? We have a plane to catch."

Jackie walked them out to the car. She had to smirk. When Daniel left her room last night he was glowing with heat. And it was for her. She went out to the car with them. Before Daniel got in, he turned to face her. She grabbed him and pulled him into a deep kiss. Daniel eagerly responded.

Breaking the kiss, she said, "Have a safe trip home, and come back soon."

Glowing again with heat, Daniel replied, "As you wish." He lifted her hand to kiss her knuckles then got in the car. They watched each other until the car was up the driveway. Jackie then pumped a fist.

.

Cameron got a call from the Vice President explaining the miscommunications. He asked her to come to the base, he'd send a plane to come get her. Cameron agreed and drove up to the airport to meet this plane.

Walking into the airport, Cameron looked around for General Watson. In the crowd inside, she saw a confused looking man in a military flight suit holding a sign that had her name on it. She walked over to him.

"Are you waiting for me?" she asked.

The man looked at the back of the sign. "Yes, Cameron Connor?"

Cameron nodded.

"Please, come with me."

She followed him and asked, "This is a private flight?"

He chuckled. "It is, and part of my required flight time. I brought a flight suit for you."

He lead her through the terminal to a guard station and showed ID. The guard let them in. They went down a short corridor that led outside. Walking to a hangar, they went around the front. Cameron saw the fighter Jet sitting in front with a rolling stairway up against the cockpit. Cameron studied the plane.

"F-15 Strike Eagle, this is some private flight," she commented. Looking at the name under the cockpit window, she asked, "You are Lt. Wysocki, Haymaker?"

The pilot chuckled. "That's me. I'll get your suit." He got on the plane and pulled a suit and helmet out of the back seat and brought it to her. "No fancy maneuvers, I'm just going to fly you straight there. It might be a little big, but it's require to have one on. Just put it on over your clothes."

Cameron took her boots off, put the flight suit on then put her boots back on. Holding her helmet, she followed him up the stairs and got into the back seat. He hooked her helmet into coms . Once he had her helmet on and was strapped into her seat, he got in and powered up. The stairway was pulled away. She listened to him get clearance for takeoff and roll down the taxiway.

It was interesting riding in a fighter jet. The takeoff pushed her back into her seat. The instant the nose tipped up, it was like they were thrown into the air. a steep banked turn generating 2 G's got them on course quickly. Cameron looked at the speed indicator on the panel in front of her. 850 knots. Yup, he was in a hurry.

"How you doing back there?"

"Fine. This plane is very maneuverable. You have a required time you need to fly?"

"Right, we have flight quals. Every month we must complete a specific number of hours airborne. I needed to fly anyway, so I was given the job to come pick you up. I'll be taking you back home also."

"This is a unique experience. Thank you for picking me up." Cameron noted the clouds below didn't just drift by, they were moving along pretty quick. "It has to be exciting, flying a fighter Jet."

He chuckled. "It doesn't suck. I'm in the National Guard. Besides fighters, I fly commercial aircraft also. This is like driving a Porsche, compared to a city bus."

"Good analogy. That is one thing I haven't done yet, fly a plane."

"You have military experience?"

"Combat, yes, I have worked with the military. As far as equipment, I mostly drove and gunned on tanks. It takes much effort to get them to fly. Even then, it's just a jump."

'Haymaker' burst out on a laugh. "I bet it does! General Southworth must want you on base ASAP to have me come get you."

"I'm sure he does. I have to speak to some troops. I imagine he's nervous."

"Some PR thing?"

"The army had a miscommunication, I am going to explain to the troops what happened, and the fact it is being corrected."

"Ah, so you're what, in administration now?"

"No, I'm just the oldest and most experienced Terminator. The troops asked me to clear something up. I have, and will explain to them."

After a long pause, Haymaker asked, "You aren't human?"

"My designation is TOK 715, I'm one of the last original terminators that came back from the future that will no longer be. Actually, the oldest terminator is Sonya, but she was scrapped by SkyNet. We found her and rebuilt her. She was a primitive model. After being updated and improved, she is much better now."

"Damn, I heard about those, I never thought I'd ever meet one."

"You may have, and not even known it. Besides our composition, we are really no different than you. My husband John is in business, Recently, Sonya and her boyfriend Mark opened up a furniture store. My daughter Joan plays football for the Austin Acoustics."

"Wait, Joan Connor the quarterback is a terminator?" he asked.

"More like a true cyborg. John is human, our daughter Joan is a mix between us."

"This is mind blowing. You can have kids?"

Cameron laughed. "Yes, I have had two, Joan and her little brother John Junior. They have both given me ... surprises. For a while, Joan was being grounded on the average of twice a month for things she did. At times, she didn't think before she did something."

"Kids will do that. We're coming up on the base now. I have to talk to flight control."

The landing was smooth. Taxiing over to a group of vehicles, including a fuel truck, Haymaker stopped and shut down.

Cameron waited until he got out, then she got out and took her helmet and flight suit off and put them on the back seat. At the bottom of the stairs she met General Watson, General Southworth and Colonel Richmond who was the Commanding Officer of the Terminator brigade.

The Colonel had a suitcase of paperwork. "Mrs. Connor, I have the enlistment contracts in here and applications for Commissions. You will explain the miscommunications to my troops?"

Cameron eyed him. "Yes, that is what I am here for. The enlistments are retroactive to the day you received these terminators, correct?"

"Enlistment begins when they sign on."

"Their enlistment will begin the day they first arrived, or they can charge you for time served at a normal civilian rate for hazardous duty," Cameron replied.

Southworth's jaw tightened. Colonel Richmond looked at General Watson. General Watson nodded. "Backdate them." he said.

"It seems the true leader of these terminators is Mrs. Connor," General Southworth said.

"Negative," Cameron stated. "I am just someone they can trust implicitly, and for the mixed signals they have been receiving, they need someone they can trust."

Colonel Richmond motioned to one of the trucks "This way. Mrs. Connor."

.

Cameron was taken to a line of Quonset huts that the Terminator brigade was in front of. Seeing the vehicles coming, the terminator all got in a line, one in front and stood at attention. When the vehicles stopped and Cameron and the Officers got out, the one in front called salute!" They all did.

"At ease!" Colonel Richmond barked.

They all shifted their pose to stand feet apart, hands behind their backs.

"Mrs. Cameron Connor has come to tell you of some important information. Mrs. Connor?"

Cameron walked over to stand in front of the one by himself and took the same pose they had. "Greetings, gentlemen and fellow Terminators. A few of you asked me to look into some conflicting reports. I have done so and will inform you of everything I found. First I will tell you there was no deliberate attempt to take away your rights or status as free, intelligent beings. What happened was miscommunication and misunderstanding. Initially, the army thought it was buying equipment from Mrs. Weaver. That equipment being you. What I found is what was bought was the use of the tech that you hold. Not you as individuals. General Watson discovered that you were all to be enlisted on six year contracts, but were not. Due to miscommunication that never happened. That lead to the misunderstanding of Officers that you were army property. That is false. Colonel Richmond has those enlistment contracts now, and applications for training to be commissioned as Officers, should any of you wish to do so. He should have had those when you first arrived. He does have them now."

Cameron stopped to point to the suitcase. "The errors made, from everything I have found, were just that, errors. Those errors are being corrected. Are there any questions any of you have?"

The one in front came to attention. "I do not have a question, but want to offer you my thanks, as do all of us, that you were able to solve this dilemma."

"You are welcome. Anyone else?" Cameron asked.

A terminator in the rank came to attention and took a step forward. "May we shake your hand as a sign of our gratitude?"

Cameron grinned. "That will be acceptable."

"Attention!" the terminator in front barked.

Cameron shook his hand, then starting at one end, went down the line, shaking every terminator's hand and returning their smile.

After shaking the last terminator hand, Cameron went back over to the Officers. "Is there anything else, Sirs?" she asked.

General Watson said, "Thank you for your assistance, Cameron. We will begin signing everyone up, post-dated to the day they arrived. Did you wish to stay and monitor?"

"At the moment, I have two horny teenagers in the house alone. It is them I wish to monitor," Cameron told him.

That got her some chuckles. "Then we will see you on your way," General Watson said with a grin.