Author's Notes: I added a bit to the space battles of chapter 17 so, if you so choose, go back and re-read it to see just what kind of damage an ISN Battle-Station can do.
General John Conner stood, hands clasped behind his back, and gazed out of an enormous transparisteel window. Sometimes, especially at times like these, he felt as though the last year was a dream. The quickly growing city below him certainly seemed something out of a dream. There were no military transports tearing through the sky, no war machines' grinding treads atop the rubble of human civilization, and no stomp of infantry marching their way to battle. No, Haven almost entirely belonged to the civilian population, except for a tiny island at the city's center.
Haven was an entirely new city that was being built on land in what had once been Mexico that had been untouched by heavy fallout. The human portion of the city was composed of wide, communal compounds that rarely reached three stories in height. There were also extensive tunnel and bunker systems beneath that part of the city. The Tau section, still not heavily populated, was generally higher than but still as communal as the humans. All of the Tau and human structures were a brilliant shade of white and made of subtly curved alloys. The tiny Machine portion of the city, for those Machines supposedly devoted to improving and developing their burgeoning culture, was only different in that everything was dressed in that signature metallic silver. Haven covered nearly five kilometers in every direction and it was still growing.
At the center of the city there stood a slender spire that was not really that slender. It was only rendered that way by the blocky skyscrapers around it. This spire was a prototype Planetary Rail-Cannon and the skyscrapers around it housed the city's garrison as well as supplies and equipment in case of siege. Conner was in one of those blocky buildings now.
"So Deliverance was a total success?" Conner asked as he turned to face his peers.
SkyNet's disgustingly handsome hologram sat in an equally holographic chair in front of a small table. Aun'O Gras'ur sat on the opposite side and sipped a mug containing a bitter Tau drink.
"I would not call the loss of fifty of my… T-X units as a total success," SkyNet answered drolly, "But the operation has exceeded our goals. Our best estimates have a combined total of over two hundred million individuals that have come with the Refugee Fleets. Approximately seventy million of which are human and a small percentage of alien species."
"What are we going to do with them?" Conner asked, raising an eyebrow, and the Tau Ethereal answered.
"The majority have no home to return to. We wish to offer them asylum. Some, most notably a Jedi Master and her apprentice, will want to return to their home galaxy. Of course we will provide transport for them when they wish."
Conner nodded, "What's the ETA on the Fleets arriving?"
"The first should arrive in approximately two days depending on how damaged their ships are," SkyNet answered.
"Any pursuers?"
"Yes, some Transited-In behind the Fleets but the Battle-Stations took care of them. Some enemy Fleets stopped our Refugees from Transiting but ISN fleets reinforced them and eliminated any Hegemony opposition."
"Good," Conner said with more than a little relief.
"Tell me, General," O'Gras'ur spoke softly, "How are the Machine-Human clones?"
Conner absently traced the scar on his face, "We have achieved an almost perfect success rate in removing the implants used to control them. Unfortunately, the clones that were nearly operational were also partially lobotomized. SkyNet believes that in time we can replace those portions with cybernetics."
"What are we to do with them once we release them?"
"They have been pre-conditioned for combat and will go through intensive training before assignment to a military branch."
"But would that not be the same as what the Stone's planned?"
Conner grimaced, "They, like any individual in the armed forces, will have the same choice. They always have the option of quitting and pursuing the life of a civilian."
The Aun nodded once and let that matter drop.
"What are your thoughts on the Sentient Coalition, General Conner?"
"They fight for the same thing we do and if their methods are extreme well… you know how the old saying goes." Conner looked at the Tau's puzzled face and grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, I forgot you were an alien for a second."
"Desperate times call for desperate measures," SkyNet interjected helpfully, "May I ask why this sudden interest in the Coalition, Aun?"
"There may come a time when there is a choice between war with the Coalition and letting them try our military for war crimes, as well as forced relocation of the civilian population to isolated worlds. We have foreseen it but not your actions."
"Without the Tau this would not be possible," SkyNet said solemnly, "And I would not exist. The Machines stand with the Tau."
Conner peered at the Aun for a moment before sighing, "You helped us survive. You fought for promises and dreams. Your people died for them, never knowing if they were going to be betrayed. You have us our freedom." Conner held out his hand to the Aun. "If it comes to that I will do everything in my power to fight for you as you fought for us. For freedom, for life."
"For The Greater Good," the Aun said, rising from his seat.
"For The Greater Good."
The Aun reached and clasped the Terran's hand.
End Notes: I'd like to thank BombSquad for providing the unique setting for this work of fanfiction. I'd also like to thank all my readers for your support, spoken and unspoken, because without you feeding my need for praise I might never have finished. I kid, loyal readers, I kid. In all seriousness I'd like to give special thanks to Alice the Raven for her technical insight and X-Over for his help with retouching rough bits of the tale. I do not know if there will be more tales of the Trinity of Light but you know how the old saying goes. Only fools count their gold earnings before they get to town. Or something to that effect. Later.