Chapter 31
Screwed
John wanted to conduct an operation since Cameron was 'out of town' for a few days. He did not like the way she tried to keep him out of combat. He felt that was part of his 'job' as the 'leader of the Resistance'.
John Henry came up with a solid lead that was backed up by satellite photos and and traffic cam footage.
John planned the operation with John Henry and went on the mission with Bob and Jim. It was a storage facility of some type. Something important seemed to be happening there based on all the truck traffic. Everything indicated this was a Skynet operation or at least Skynet related. They could expect to find Grays there and possibly Skynet Metal.
They laid out a plan of attack.
"We will come in from the rear. There is a 'Forest Service' road through the hills." John said. "We will stay off the highway and the flatlands to the north for our final approach."
John looked at Bob and Jim.
"You both have been briefed on what to do." John said.
Bob wanted to make one of the mission parameters clear.
"One of us is to accompany you at all times." Bob said.
John knew plans could change and the battlefield was fluid.
"What if I order you to do differently?" John asked. "Something may arise where you will be needed elsewhere."
Bob wanted John to be protected.
"One of us is to accompany you at all times." Bob repeated.
John frowned. He could feel Cameron's influence even when she was not around.
"Don't tell me, Cameron hard wired that into you." John said.
Bob needed to follow his programming.
"She said it is for your protection." Bob added.
John understood Cameron's concern.
"Behind every great man is a great woman…." John said.
"Affirmative." Bob replied.
John tried not to smiled.
"What did I tell you about talking like that?" John asked.
Bob shrugged his shoulders. It was the most logical response.
"I will learn and adapt as we go along." Bob said.
When they arrived at the turnoff for the 'Forest Service' road there was a chain with a padlock that blocked the path.
Bob got out and snapped the chain. John drove through. Bob picked the chain back up and bent the link back together. He did it just enough to hold the chain up but so it would snap easy if they had to hit it in a hurry on the way out with the vehicle.
They parked on the back side of the last rise before the factory. They were close but not close enough to be seen. They covered the SUV with camouflage netting, It was backed into a small gully for additional concealment.
"Let's move out." John said.
John went to take the lead but Bob moved up in front of him.
"I have point." Bob said as he passed John.
John was not going to argue about it. Bob would be able to spot trip wires or surveillance equipment better than he could. They slowed as they neared the last rise of the hill that overlooked the facility below.
They inched up to the top and scanned the facility from the crest of the hill. Everything looked clear. There wasn't any Metal spotted. That was a good start anyway.
They'd laid out a route of entry from the satellite photos. John went over the plan again.
"We will move down through the dry wash and look for any surveillance equipment before we try to gain access to the building proper." John said. "We want to gather any intel we can before the shooting starts. If you see any threat you are to neutralize it. If we see Metal and are not detected we will plant the charges and pull out."
"Affirmative." Bob replied.
John just shook his head in resignation.
"I need to be more involved in the reprogramming." John muttered.
Cameron was damaged but she was not going to let John go on this operation 'alone'. She would back him up clandestinely with the help of Allison and Sarah.
They shared some small talk along the way. It was more of a somber mood. Sarah and Allison could tell how worried Cameron was about not being at John's side.
Cameron, Sarah and Allison arrived at the location Cameron figured John would use to gain access to the facility. They actually had his plan from John Henry. They knew it could change at any point.
"They will go in the back way through the 'Forest Service' roads." Cameron said. "Let me check this chain."
Cameron got out and looked at the chain. She barely pulled on it and it separated. Sarah drove their SUV through and Cameron reset the chain as it was when she'd found it. It was still set to snap easily if an SUV needed to ram it to get out in a hurry. There would be minimal damage to the SUV this way.
They moved up the road in darkness.
"I see their SUV." Cameron said. "Let's park over there on the opposite side."
Cameron exited the SUV and carefully moved up to peer over the crest of the hill, while Sarah backed it in to where Cameron wanted it.
They'd followed behind John's team by only about five to ten minutes. Cameron wanted to be close but not be spotted.
"They just went in the building." Cameron said. "All three of them."
Sarah and Allison moved up now as well. They both took a look.
"Do we wait to see what happens?" Allison asked.
Cameron did not want to wait. She wanted Sarah and Allison to reinforce John's team.
"No. We move down and you and Sarah back them up now. Remember I am not here." Cameron said. "If this goes sour and I get separated, you are to go and leave without me. You are to protect John and watch out for yourselves. There were motorcycles and cars at the fast food store we drove past. I will procure transportation from there."
Allison remembered that store was back a ways.
"That was back like fifteen or twenty miles ago." Allison said.
Cameron did not see that as a problem.
"It won't take me long to cover that distance. I can acquire new transportation if needed." Cameron said. "Let's follow this gully down."
They moved in silence. Cameron led the way.
Cameron suddenly stopped and dropped down. Sarah and Allison did the same.
"Stop. There is a group on men moving out between those two sets of rocks. It is most likely a tunnel entrance." Cameron said. "They are all armed. I want you two to move back up and get the sniper rifle out. Use the Coltan rounds, just in case. Sarah you shoot, Allison will spot and provide security on your six."
Allison looked at Sarah.
"I will shoot." Allison said.
Allison knew Sarah did not want to kill unless she needed to. Allison did not have that same hang up. She'd killed people in her future many times. She knew the enemy and the enemy needed to be eradicated.
Sarah nodded at Allison and looked at Cameron.
"What about you?" Sarah asked.
"I am going to see what's in the tunnel. I need you to hold your position and keep the vehicles secure. Don't move down the slope. Keep checking your flanks and six when the shooting starts. Text John and let him know you are here and what is happening." Cameron said. "Remember, I am not here."
Cameron wanted John to know there was a hostile force on his six. They did not appear to be aggressive yet. They would be easier targets for Allison as long as they thought they were on a routine patrol where nothing ever happened.
John checked his phone. It was Allison. She sent the message about the patrol and their position. She also said what they were going to do about the patrol.
"Great, we are about to get screwed. Sarah and Allison have taken up a sniping position on the hill we came down. They followed us here. There is a small force of armed men closing our back door. They appear to have come out from a tunnel on the west side of this structure. They don't think any of them are Metal. We need to plant the charges and get out now. We will use the exit on the east side we saw on the plans. I will let Allison know where we are coming out of the building at."
Bob went to make sure the exit was clear. He returned quickly.
"There is Metal by that exit." Bob said.
John let out a long breath.
"Beautiful." John said.
Bob and Jim both accessed files at John's last statement to determine the different context usage of the term 'beautiful'.
John figured they would need to exit the way they'd entered.
"Jim, go back to the door we came in at. When the sniping starts I want you to 'fill in with the bass'." John said as he indicated the 'pig' Jim carried.
Jim checked the belt on his M60.
John notified Allison to have the sniping start from the rear when the first man was twenty feet from the door. He informed her Jim would open up with the M60 on the group closest to the door.
"Bob, when the shooting starts that Terminator should come to investigate. He will round the corner where you are at." John said. "When you hear me yell 'Hey', he should turn to look at me. Step out from this row of boxes and open up on him. I will be in the clear off to the side before he sees me."
Bob was not so sure about John using himself as bait. It was a workable plan nonetheless.
"Affirmative." Bob said.
There was now a slight grin on John's face.
"Whatever." John said as he shook his head.
Cameron worked her way to the top of the tunnel entrance. There were two men standing guard. She dropped down on top of one man. She crushed his skull with her feet. The second man turned and she drove her fist into is chest. The aimed blow ruptured his heart. She scanned the area for any other guards. There were none apparent.
The first sniper round sounded and then the M60 opened up. Cameron heard one more sniper round among the automatic fire and then it was quiet. None of the men in the patrol returned a shot.
Seconds later Cameron heard of a long burst of automatic fire from inside the building. It was quiet after that.
She entered the tunnel.
Seconds ago:
Inside the building the Terminator ran towards the gunfire. As soon as he rounded the corner, John from behind him yelled 'Hey'. He turned to look. That is when Bob stepped out and fired his M4. It was loaded with Coltan rounds. Bob fired into his torso and legs. The Terminator went down incapacitated. John checked the area and moved forward. He saw no additional threats.
"Let's try to get his chip so we can see what his mission is and where he has been." John said. "I want to know who sent him."
Bob moved in and quickly removed the chip. The fallen Terminator never rebooted.
John wanted to set the explosive charges and move out.
"Let's get out and blow this place." John said. "Bring his chassis. We may be able to fix and reprogram him. If not we can use the Coltan for projectiles."
John checked with Allison and she told John it was clear to move back up the hill. They were halfway up the hill when the building detonated.
The five of them joined up at the top.
Bob placed his 'cargo' in the back of their SUV.
"Jim, you are with Allison and Sarah. Bob, stays with me." John said.
John looked back at the burning building.
"Let's go." John said.
Allison and Sarah looked at each other anxiously. They knew they were about to leave Cameron behind.
Screwed
There are many interpretations
Of what it means to be screwed
Most may think or wonder
If it is about something lewd
Everything depends on
How something is viewed
It may be bent or twisted
So its real meaning is skewed
One's thoughts to some
May seem abrasive or rude
Others may see them as
Unsophisticated and crude
There is no need to be angry
Or to get steamed or stewed
Take life at face value
There's no need be shrewd
Break the shackles and restraints
Let your very soul be nude
There is more to life
Don't end up a prude
Nobody