Chapter 698

Start The Clock

Cameron looked at the Gray she'd just killed. Everything that was going to happen next seemed to all start here with this incident. It started an invisible timer on all of the events about to unfold. She was aware because she'd been distracted thinking about John that's what allowed the Gray to get the drop on them. She should've detected him when he made his first movement towards them. Instead it ended up with him pointing a gun at Savannah and her. It was probably his desire to assault them later on that prevented them from being shot outright.

Now it was time to make a choice. They could turn and run. She could pick up and take the Gray with them. That would be done to make it look like he ran off. It wouldn't be the first time that a Gray cut ranks and ran.

Since Cameron heard the man's voice. They could take over his post. She could try to emulate him. She didn't know if there was a code word or specific check in times. She could think that she they'd fooled the Grays while they actually sent a patrol up to apprehend or kill them because they knew there was an imposter.

The final option seems to be that she would go ahead and start the strike now. She was under armed and she would be totally exposed since it was still daylight if she started an attack now. She thought that she would let Savannah decide.

"What do you want to do?" Cameron asked.

With that near kiss, Savannah thought of a 'cute' response to that question. She didn't think Cameron was in a joking mood right now. She decided to play it straight. She thought the safest choice would be for them to back off you let their drones do the dirty work.

"We could call in a drone strike." Savannah said. "I suggest we retreat back to where Gail is and armor up."

They both knew that the drone strike wasn't going to happen while it was still daylight.

Cameron pointed at the dead guard.

"What about this traitor?" Cameron asked.

Savannah knew if they wanted to wait until darkness to launch a drone strike or wait for more reinforcements to arrive, they needed to buy time. She contemplated how they could do that and not get caught. She tried to think of a method that wouldn't involve them directly and offer some type of a plausible explanation.

"Let's make it look like he fell." Savannah said.

Cameron tilted her head slightly at Savannah's suggestion. She began to run possible scenarios. It seemed it might work.

Savannah re-holstered the guard's sidearm. They might as well make it look like he didn't feel threatened. They wanted it to look like an accident.

Cameron checked out the position the guard was previously concealed in. It was a good spot that overlooked the complex below. If they'd followed the truck in closer, that position would have spotted them as a tail. It wouldn't have been easy to spot them from below unless one knew where to look.

There were some bottles of water where the guard was concealed. Cameron offered a sealed one to Savannah who declined. She then dumped them on the ground between two rocks as she formulated a plan.

Then they heard what they didn't want to hear. There was a slight crackling noise followed by a voice on the radio the guard carried.

Savannah and Cameron looked at each other.

"Charlie One, report." The radio crackled.

There was a pause.

Savannah handed Cameron the radio.

Cameron was ready to answer. She looked at Savannah and went to speak. A fraction of a second before she did, a new voice came across the radio.

"Charlie One, here. All is well." A voice reported. "Charlie One, out…."

Cameron quickly realized there were a series of outposts. She would need to determine where each one of those was at before moving forward.

"Delta Two, report." The radio crackled.

Cameron waited.

Savannah felt the silence was too long.

Cameron was about to speak when the voice came back over the line with an angry tone to it.

"Delta Two, report." The radio crackled.

She nodded at Cameron.

"Delta Two, here…." Cameron said in the dead man's voice. "All is well but I don't feel well. I'm starting to have double vision and I feel dizzy. I ran out of water a long time ago. I think I'm dehydrated."

The voice on the radio sounded even angrier.

"Delta Two, grow a pair." The radio crackled. "Save the complaints for the Wastelands. You know it can get a lot worse than this."

Cameron coughed three times into the radio before she responded.

"Delta Two, roger…." Cameron said in the dead man's voice. "I'll try to tough it out. Delta Two, out…."

Cameron coughed several more times before she ended the transmission. She picked the dead man up and moved him back to his post. She returned his radio to its holder and dropped him down a ten foot drop, head first onto a large rock. There was a sickening crack and thud as the man landed.

Savannah made sure all the empty water bottles were scattered where the man's position had been.

Cameron took one quick look around the area and decided it was in order. She made sure that none of their footprints showed in any of the places where there was soft dirt. She'd been able to spot the other outpost that was further along on the side of the hill.

"Let's get back to Gail and formulate a new plan." Cameron said. "Charlie One would spot us if we go down this way. We're going to need another way in."

Savannah collected her underwear and bra.

"I never thought I could use my undergarments that way." Savannah said. "That guy couldn't take his eyes off of them."

Cameron made her own observation as the man viewed Savannah's undergarments.

"He thought about what they normally cover. I saw him lick his lips in anticipation…."

Savannah was pretty sure about what else he was thinking to do with those parts that were normally covered by her undergarments.

"What a creep." Savannah said. "I'm sure he's assaulted plenty of females."

Cameron kept track of their trail out to make sure there were no traces of it along with their trail in. She used a branch off of a bush. She wanted to remind Savannah what she'd previously taught her.

"Remember, always offer the target what they want to get close to them and then finish them off." Cameron said. "He probably wondered which one of us they belonged to…."

Savannah knew what Scavengers did to Vanna and Jesse. From the reports she read about captives in the hands of Skynet and the Grays, females didn't fare much better there. Prospects for the future seemed grim on all fronts, especially for females.

Cam looked around with her eyes just above the top of the crate. She was ready to exit from the crate for a better look around. She was tired of waiting. With the operation about to go hot on Cameron's end, it was time for action here. The better she knew the layout of the interior of the building and the strength of the enemy, the better she'd be able to direct troop placement. She could act as an advance scout as long as she wasn't detected. Her biggest worry was the Terminator that she'd spotted earlier. She hoped to locate him first.

She spotted the Terminator looking around. He was looking at the crates that must have been on the ends of both boxcars. That appeared to be where they'd hid the real cargo, with the toys in front as decoys. She watched as he opened one crate. It contained one of the new HK drone power plants. There were two dozen crates. There were some other crates that might contain Coltan. She would need a closer look.

Cam knew they needed to capture some of this material as it would save them the trouble of building it themselves. There were enough power plants for twelve HK drones. There could be more as well if she could check the crates that were behind other crates.

She was concerned with the closeness of the Terminator to her position. She decided to wait a little bit. She carefully lowered herself back inside the crate and waited. Until she was sure that the Terminator left, she would stay put.

Cam concentrated her hearing to follow the Terminator's movements around her. She made sure her Taser was ready to go.

John dealt with the reports that arrived from all the locations. It was Cameron's report that troubled him the most. When he received the report as to what she'd actually done to the guard before they left, he knew there was no way around the inevitable.

"Here we go." John said.

John Henry didn't see any way around it either. The clock was running.

"It was inevitable." John Henry said.

John was most worried about the lack of personnel where Cameron's team was. The satellite map indicated the location where she was, was larger and more spread out than the old newspaper plant, it was a giant single building. The buildings at the old steel mill we're more spread out. Some of them were very large as well.

"We need to get more people in place." John said.

John Henry kept track of all the locations. He didn't want them to know what the others were going to do, especially once the attack started.

"I'm monitoring all communications from each of the places we're watching." John Henry said. "As soon as I detect one trying to communicate with another, I'll cut their transmissions."

John thought about that for a moment. He wanted to buy some time. He didn't think there were enough personnel to attack all the locations simultaneously. He wanted a way around that.

"Redirect them through your server first to emulate the voices you detect before we go to a total blockage. It will give each place less time to prepare or react. I want to try to take these places down one at a time." John said. "That will free up our people to move to other locations for additional support."

John Henry thought time would work against them the longer they waited.

"It's doubtful we will be able to wait for nightfall." John Henry said. "It doesn't appear drone support will be possible without detection. None of these areas are totally isolated."

John nodded. It was time to act.

"Let's go after the Coltan to start with." John said.

John wanted to knock down the smaller satellite facilities first and then redirect more personnel to the old newspaper facility. To get more help to Cameron was going to be a problem. That was going to take time.

Young Allison was displeased at the way things developed, especially for Cameron's team.

The mood in the Young bunker grew somber.

"This is rapidly falling apart and about to go hot." Anna said.

Young Allison wanted more assistance for Cameron's team. It didn't appear John was going to send any at this time.

"Cameron and Savannah need more help." Young Allison said. "Cammy needs to go and assist them."

Anna knew that Young Allison was about to start making decisions on her own. She wanted to remind her what Cammy's responsibility currently was.

"She's responsible for Sarah and Jan." Anna said.

Young Allison wanted more help for Cameron's team. It was time to act.

"One of you can remain here. The others need to go to help." Young Allison said. "Sarah and Allison are here. I'm here. I can watch Jan and Summer. I want CamNet to start making things happen."

Anna immediately received an update from CamNet.

It was clear that CamNet was ready and anticipated Young Allison's wishes.

"CamNet has already secured the local helicopter that was used last time." Anna said.

Young Allison was ready to send all of the Metal girls to help.

"Cammy and Hanna can fly. You or Holly needs to go as well." Young Allison said.

They were both surprised by the next voice.

"I can go." Allison said as she entered the bunker.

It appeared that Young Allison wasn't the only one who did her share of spying.

"No." Young Allison said. "That's not happening."

Allison felt justified as well as qualified in her request to assist.

"I want to help Cameron and Savannah too. It's not like I've never done all of this before. You need to remember that and not forget it." Allison said. "I love both of them."

Young Allison could have done without the reminder of Allison's past in the future. Current conditions dictated otherwise as to what Allison should do.

"I do too." Young Allison said. "You're pregnant. You have more than yourself to worry about."

Holly appeared at the bunker entrance. She'd obviously been keeping tabs on Allison. She knew it was time to act.

"I'll go in her place." Holly said.

Anna looked over at Young Allison and then turned her attention to Holly.

"I'll tell Hanna and Cammy." Anna said. "Holly, let's go."

Young Allison wanted to help. She was willing to commit the reserves. Allison and her could take care of everyone at the Young residence. There was still the Detail as well. This wasn't the first time she was willing to send away all of her protection to assist in an operation.

John Henry watched John send troops to fortify the other locations and prepare for the attack. He wanted to point out one location that was neglected.

"We need more people where Cameron's at." John Henry said.

John didn't want to shortchange the operations he wanted to conduct first.

"We need more people everywhere." John said.

John Henry wanted all the help they could get. He contacted CamNet as well.

"I've recalled all our teams and CamNet has alerted all of Cameron's Terminators." John Henry said. "This is a maximum effort."

John didn't want to take any chances.

"I want all the Details on high alert." John said.

Young Allison saw the alert come through. She immediately went and found Summer and Jan. She brought them down into the bunker. Young Allison knew Sarah and her mother needed to come in as well.

"Where is everyone?" Young Allison asked.

Jan was with Summer.

"My mom left with the Metal girls." Jan said. "Only Claire's left."

That wasn't news the Young Allison wanted to hear.

"Where's Anna?" Young Allison asked.

"She left with them too." Jan said.

Young Allison was disappointed but that only turned this into another test for her. This was unexpected and she needed to deal with it. She wanted help for Cameron and Savannah. She knew Anna understood this and why.

She found her mother and brought her down to join Allison and the girls. She closed the blast door behind them and secured it.

Allison already started to hand out vests. She handed Young Allison hers. Cameron fabricated a slightly smaller one for her, so it fit her better.

Young Allison looked at Jan and gave it to her. She helped her put it on.

"Relax…." Young Allison noticed her mother's and Allison's concern. "I'll wear Anna's vest."

Claire was proud to watch her daughter give her vest to Jan. She also pointed out the obvious.

"Anna's vest is too big for you." Claire said.

Young Allison answered with a tad of defiance.

"It won't be for long…." Young Allison said.

Allison and Claire looked at each other. There was nothing to say. There was no stopping it. They knew the future was coming and coming a lot faster than any of them ever imagined.

"Mom, you take the girls to one of the bunker rooms and help them study or play." Young Allison said. "Allison, you're here with me. I want to use all of your experience and advice."

Allison smiled to hear that. She felt a little outclassed looking at all the computer gear.

"We can't plug in like John Henry or Anna." Allison said.

Young Allison knew that wasn't a problem. She had the worlds most sophisticated and advanced computer system that would back her up and guide her.

"CamNet will help us see and understand everything." Young Allison said. "She'll filter everything and only show us what's most important for us to see or use. I may want to make changes."

Allison was a little surprised to hear that. She wondered if her younger self could actually be the most powerful person on earth if she wanted to be.

"Can you control CamNet?" Allison asked.

Young Allison wanted a working relationship, not control.

"No, I work with CamNet." Young Allison said. "CamNet is – Cameron."

Young Allison knew this was a test. She would rely on CamNet for maximum assistance. She would also depend on CamNet to strike at her command if she thought it was necessary. She was pretty sure that she was going to step on some toes. She currently possessed the ability to do that if she thought it was prudent. She didn't plan to hold back on anything if the girls were threatened. Nobody put her girls in a corner.

Sheila and Ally saw more help arrive.

It was time for action.

Sheila needed to let John know they were ready.

"OK, love." Sheila said. "We have six Terminators here now."

John wanted to be able to strike with speed and overwhelming force.

"Is that enough?" John asked.

Sheila and Ally had the location under observation for some time. They thought they knew all the details.

"It's a small place." Sheila said. "I don't think there are more than a dozen people here."

John Henry wanted to know if there were any 'wild cards'.

"Have you spotted any Terminators?" John Henry asked.

Ally I was ready to go.

"We haven't spotted any." Ally said. "We'll neutralize all the targets and take whatever Coltan we can."

John wanted to make sure that no Coltan was left behind.

"You need to take all of it." John said.

Ally didn't think it would be a problem.

"We have two Terminators for each of the three entrances." Ally said.

Sheila was a little concerned about the noise level.

"Everyone has a suppressor on their M4." Sheila said. "That will reduce the sound but not eliminate it."

It was at Savannah's urging after speaking with Young Allison, that they use silenced or suppressed weapons as much as possible. The events on the mountain top showed silenced weapons helped them keep a lower profile. They used the Gray's silenced MP5 weapons against them quite effectively.

John Henry looked at John who nodded once at him. It was 'go time'.

"If everyone's ready, I'll cut communications in thirty seconds." John Henry said.

Ally and Sheila started forward. They indicated for the other Terminators to advance as well.

"Start the clock." Ally said. "We're moving…."

Ed checked with his team.

"We're ready to go as well." Ed said. "There are four of us."

John stressed what he wanted them to do. He was worried they were short handed.

"I want to make sure we have another truck available." John said. "We want those subassemblies."

John Henry was a little surprised with a new message from CamNet.

"CamNet has indicated they have additional personnel for Ed's team. There are extra trucks for Sheila's team as well as Ed's team." John Henry said.

John was a little surprised to hear that. It was all the things that they needed for those two locations. There was still one more location to deal with for the satellite facilities.

"That leaves Dan and Frank alone at the 'furniture store'." John said.

Frank thought he needed to update the Command Center. He'd received some unexpected help.

"The Reese brothers have arrived with Jim." Frank said.

John slammed his fist down on the table. It appeared that someone made an end run around him again.

Dan spotted two new arrivals as well.

"There are also two of Cameron's Terminators that just pulled up." Dan said. "The Reese brothers will be protected."

John told John Henry to initiate the communications block.

"Cut all the communications, everything at the satellite facilities happens now." John said.

John Henry received information that some of the teams were already engaged.

"Sheila's team has already breached and the other two teams are moving in as well." John Henry said. "It is going down as we speak."

There were multiple attacks being launched simultaneously.

After the satellite facilities were taken down. John wanted to concentrate his efforts on the old newspaper plant. After that facility was taken down and secured he would have to deal with the location where Cameron was at. He didn't know yet that Young Allison already took some preemptive action with CamNet's assistance.

Start The Clock

Can something end
If there's no beginning
Maybe that all depends on
What's considered winning

Everything has a shelf life
What it is determines its length
Some things are weaker
Others have more strength

Maybe it's how
The race is run
More so than
The warmth of the sun

The sun provides light
Through life's darkness
Without that warming light
All that's left is starkness

Unless one can find
The one who is a rock
The relationship is limited
Start the clock

Nobody