Chapter 1517
Personal Lesson
Cam thought about taking the direct approach and go down the narrow ventilation shaft. She would need to leave all of her gear behind, as well as the rest of the team. It seemed like a bad idea for now. It would be better if everyone stuck together until they knew more about what was going on inside the mine.
"Let's go down to Level Three." Cam said. "We will use the sloped shaft as planned."
There was another shock wave and the faint sound of a blast. The passageway wall collapsed where Bob identified a problem just a few minutes ago. Dust and tiny debris rained down on them.
They were still in contact with John Henry. They told him of the deteriorating conditions.
He was able to give them some encouraging news as they moved along.
"Summer has discovered the section of the mine which remained open was heavily braced with steel supports." John Henry said. "I've shown a delivery of steel two times a week for the last two years."
Cam wondered how they'd missed it before. It seemed like something John Henry should have picked up when he checked into the mine.
"Was it done clandestinely?" Cam asked.
John Henry was made aware of it by Summer.
"Yes." John Henry said. "The shipments were tagged for freeway bridge construction in the seven southern counties of California. None of them were ever delivered to the state or its contractors. They all arrived in the early hours of the morning when few people were around."
Cam understood the time.
"They did it during the 'Witching Hour'." Cam said.
John Henry thought there was some good news to it.
"The reports indicate there should be another shipment tonight." John Henry said. "It means they're still not finished with whatever they're doing."
Cam wanted to make sure they never finished.
"I plan to be finished with this place by then." Cam said.
The team moved on. There was another caved in area where they needed to crawl over the pile of earth and rock. It almost blocked the passageway.
Bob was concerned with the deteriorating conditions.
"We need to start to think about a way out of this place." Bob said. "We may get trapped in here before too long."
Cam knew they needed to keep moving. They could get trapped and need to spend days digging themselves out. It was if they even could. She checked over all of them and made sure everything was in order.
Gail was there for one reason.
"I don't want Savannah to come here and have to do this." Gail said. "Let's go."
The other Terminators didn't want it either. They knew Cameron would go over there herself. Savannah would be with her. It would happen if they didn't take care of the problem now.
Cam led the team forward. She placed one foot down and felt what she stepped on move. There was a loud 'crack' noise and a section of the floor of the passageway gave out. There was another shaft of some type which had been covered over. She tried to back peddle but slipped on all the loose rubble and debris. She landed hard on her rear end and the rest of the rotted wood gave way. She started to fall down the opening.
Gail made a lunge for her. She didn't quite make it.
Cam disappeared down the shaft.
There was another rumble and blast noise. The collapsed section of the passageway they just passed a few minutes ago, collapsed even more.
Bob lost communication with John Henry in mid sentence. They were cut off.
They all rushed up to the edge of the splintered wood and looked down into the void where Cam disappeared.
Bob was in communication with John Henry when the bottom of the passageway let loose and took Cam with it. He'd just given them their current position.
"Cam has fallen into a shaft. The bottom…." Bob started.
John Henry tried to reach the team. No one responded.
"There was another blast right before we lost communication." John Henry said.
Summer updated the diagram of the mine system from Bob's latest information.
"We know where they're at." Summer said. "We can always pull them out."
John Henry could run a temporal mission to a minute ago where the team was at before the problems happened. It would most likely alert Skynet to their presence in the mine, even if he pulled the team out. If Skynet planned to do anything, they might put it into action. He could run the temporal mission at any time.
"I think we need to wait and see what plays out." John Henry said. "We don't want to tip our hand yet."
Summer wanted a crack at the Skynet computer. Sure they could blow the mine into rubble, but Skynet was sure to have tentacles elsewhere. She wanted to encrypt the Skynet operating system to lock everything down, wherever it was.
"I want Skynet." Summer said. "I want the Octopus."
John Henry looked over at Summer. He wondered if she was a weapon.
'I don't know.' Summer responded.
There were no spoken words.
Neither one looked at the other.
Derek was really pleased with Riley. She was like a new person or something. She'd been so depressed but now she seemed rejuvenated.
He thought about what he'd witnessed earlier. If it was what it was, he didn't have a problem with it. It may have been nothing either. He was just glad Riley was her old self again. It was really something he hadn't seen since she was pregnant.
They rested side by side now.
Riley looked over at Derek. She was pleased she could still satisfy him. It was like she was reborn the last few days. Maybe she'd found herself again.
She gave Derek a loving kiss.
"Let me check on Precious real quick." Riley said.
Riley got up and headed into Precious' room. She saw Samantha standing in the corner. She looked like she was in standby. She checked on Precious and then looked at Samantha. It was beautiful to see her standing there wearing the skin tight shirt. She could clearly see her rings. She thought about touching them but resisted.
She turned around to leave. There was a noise behind her. She turned around and Samantha's top was lifted above her breasts. It appeared Samantha just flashed her.
"Go ahead." Samantha whispered.
Riley came back and touched her. She played with her jewelry. She looked back at the door to the room. It was empty. She didn't want to get caught. She gave Samantha a quick kiss and pulled her shirt down.
"Thanks." Riley whispered. "You're very beautiful."
Riley went to leave but paused. She held one of hers up. Samantha leaned forward for more. She switched over to the other side and did the same.
"Thanks." Samantha said. "You're very beautiful too."
She blew Samantha a kiss as she went out the door. It seemed like a long time since anyone told her she was. It was very nice to hear. It was something all of the other females told her. It made her feel good about herself. She felt like she 'wasn't good enough' most of the time. She felt like nobody. Cameron's 'rhythmic short stories' really resonated with her on many occasions.
It always made her feel bad and disgusted her to know many of the feelings Cameron experienced were because of another version of her, Future Riley. She really hated her.
Riley rejoined Derek in bed. She was ready for some more action. At this point she didn't care where she got it.
Derek touched her.
"Wow!" Derek said. "You're really aroused."
Riley kissed him.
"Give me everything you've got…." Riley said.
Derek did.
Sarah finished up on top of Kyle. She was exhausted. She rolled off of him and looked at the ceiling.
"I'm beat." Sarah said.
Kyle was more than beat. Sarah drove him almost to the point of insanity because she'd ridden him so hard. There was a sensation overload once he'd finished. Sarah never slowed or stopped. It was intense.
"I am too." Kyle said.
He looked over and admired Sarah's tight and trim muscular figure. He thought she was as hot as any thirty year old. No, with her new jewelry, she was as hot as a twenty year old.
He reached over and touched one.
Sarah grimaced a little. The piercings were still fresh.
She rolled over on her side so he could get to both of them easier.
The pleasure and the pain reminded her she was alive and it was good to be alive. It excited her.
Kyle really wondered if life got any better than this. He was sure Sarah was with another female and she probably did the piercings. She seemed so alive, he didn't care. He wanted her to find whatever happiness she could. He did wonder who it was. He briefly thought maybe it was one of the Metal girls and then thought better. He would like to see her in action with whoever it was. He wondered if maybe he could learn something…. He'd always known the girls knew how to please each other better than males did. He'd seen plenty of it in the future too.
The three Metal girls all worked on Claire. She'd just been with Jesse so it was hard to top. Hanna, Camille and Holly were able to do so.
Claire fondled Holly and really liked how she looked. She was a total knockout. She would really like to see Allison's face when she saw Holly now sported a some new jewelry.
She thought Hanna and her would concentrate on each other but the 'Allison' in Camille, and the 'Vanna' in Hanna were content to work on each other. It left Holly all to her.
Claire really wanted to do a three way with Holly and Allison. No, she wanted a one on one with Allison. It was something she'd wanted since she'd first seen her with Cameron and Vanna when Young Allison was a baby. She didn't know who she was then. She only saw her as a beautiful woman. It was a desire which only grew with time.
She actually mentioned it to Vanna when she was with her a few times and she mentioned it to Hanna all the time. Nothing ever happened. She looked over at Camille with Hanna. She moved Holly over with her and she started in on Camille. Right now Camille was 'Allison' to her.
Holly and Hanna looked at each other and both of them knew what Claire was thinking….
Maybe it was time. They knew what she wanted.
Vanna and Allison liked the variety and they liked the Metal girls. Most of all, they liked to share with each other. It was where they felt the most content and at peace. They were able to separate the love from the sex and understood everything for what it was.
Vanna just finished right after Allison did. She rotated back around and they lay side by side.
They just looked at each other's face and smiled.
Allison leaned over and kissed Vanna. The kiss was soon fueled by each other.
Vanna looked at Allison when they took a break.
"I heard what Claire said." Vanna said.
Allison figured everyone did. She knew only Young Allison and Summer were her 'daughters' to Claire. She was always seen as someone her mother's age. How could she be her daughter? Maybe it was because her mother was dead in her future. If her mother saw her as her daughter, it meant her mother needed to accept she was dead and Summer never existed in her future.
"I've thought about it." Allison said. "We did kiss once or twice during an orgy once. It was all. I know she wanted more but she didn't want to 'take' it."
Vanna was with Claire many times. Sex was better with Claire than it was with Allison.
"She's beautiful to be with." Vanna said.
Allison knew everyone preferred to be with her mother over her if they could have a choice. It always made her feel uneasy.
"So I've seen and heard." Allison said.
Vanna thought Allison would be with Claire at some point.
"I think it will happen." Vanna said.
Allison was ready.
"I want it to be one on one if it ever does." Allison said.
Vanna didn't think it would be a problem. She was sure Claire could teach Allison a few things. It would be a good learning experience.
One of the drones located the three assailants Young Allison wanted tracked down.
"CamNet is ready to fire a missile." Anna said. "I've recommended she use the gun instead."
There was a surge of anger in Young Allison. She wanted blood. The battered girl they'd just found bothered her. She'd already made up her mind what was going to happen. It was personal to her.
"No." Young Allison said. "I want them. I'm going to kill them myself."
Anna didn't want her to do it. Killing Grays was one thing. This was different. These were street punks. They were common criminals. It was true that their behavior was much like Scavenger's behavior in the future.
"Randy and Brian can deal with them." Anna said. "I'll have CamNet cut them down with the drone."
Young Allison wanted to be the one to do it. It was her vendetta. She would do her own dirty work. No one needed to kill for her.
"No." Young Allison said. "I'm going to kill them myself."
CamNet listened to Young Allison and Anna. She thought it was a bad idea as well. She still felt obligated to follow Young Allison's wishes. She moved one drone into a tight orbit above their SUV. She sent another drone to back up the first drone to track the trio in case they split up. The fourth one was put in a wider orbit around those two. She made sure all the police were out of the area. She took over all traffic cams and surveillance cameras in the area. She told Anna to follow Young Allison instructions.
Anna wasn't pleased at the rebuke by CamNet, but she wasn't going to argue with her. It was a bad idea and she needed to make the best of it.
Young Allison closed in on where the trio was at as Anna gave her directions.
"They just broke a window at a store." Anna said.
Young Allison didn't want to kill them outright. She wanted to make them suffer first. She knew she wasn't thinking clearly. She was still steamed over how the girl was so badly beaten.
Randy wanted the opportunity to act first. He decided to give Young Allison an option.
"Do you want us to bust them up first?" Randy asked.
It was what Young Allison wanted. She wanted them to suffer.
"Yes." Young Allison said. "Break their arms and legs so they're incapacitated and then tie them up. I'm going to be the one to kill them."
At the next signal Mel pulled up next to their SUV. Brian and Randy quickly transferred over to it. Mel sped away.
Anna didn't want Young Allison to follow them too closely. She hoped they would take care of business before they arrived.
"Let them go first." Anna said.
Anna was sure it was a suggestion from CamNet. She didn't know it was a suggestion from Summer.
Summer monitored the mine and what Young Allison was up to. She told CamNet what needed to be done before Young Allison arrived. She knew what her sister planned to do to the men. She was aware there was a streak of vengeance in her. It didn't need to be cultivated.
Young Allison was directed into an alley in back of the store the street punks broke the window at. She spotted Mel's SUV down about halfway. She pulled up behind it.
She was a little surprised at what she saw next.
The three males were bound and gagged. All three of them looked like they had fractures. They were obviously in pain and suffering already. She was glad to see they were on their knees already.
Young Allison took out her knife. She was going to teach them a personal lesson….
Anna didn't want Young Allison to go 'Scavenger' on them.
"You don't need to do this." Anna pleaded.
Young Allison looked at her but said nothing. She approached the street punks. They were future Scavengers to her. They needed to know what it was like to suffer as their dozens of victims had suffered. She wondered what would have happened to the other female if they hadn't been there and found her. She might be dead right now at the doorway to the bathroom in the park. Why? What was wrong with some people? Why did some politicians think criminals shouldn't be punished for their crimes? All they did is keep doing the same criminal things over and over, as the victim's piled up.
John lost track of the time but it didn't matter, he was ready again.
Jesse was over him and faced towards him. Young Jesse faced Jesse over him as well. He started in and Jesse picked up the pace. He could hear them kissing and touching as everyone pleasured each other.
It was Heaven on earth.
Young Jesse and Jesse both finished and they switched places. They still did the same thing. When they finished again Jesse quickly moved next to him on one side and Young Jesse was on the other side.
They both kissed him on the cheek.
Jesse looked at him with love in her eyes.
"It's your turn." Jesse whispered. "Love me…."
John knew what she wanted. It's what he gave her.
Young Jesse was right next to them as they made love to each other. She could see Jesse did everything the same way she'd done. It actually excited her. When she could see Jesse and John were close, she helped herself out and all three of them finished at the same time.
John felt Jesse wrap her arms tighter around him and pull him in close. He was sure she wanted to get pregnant by her actions. He didn't know she already was. He knew Young Jesse was. He briefly wondered if they both became pregnant if the babies would be considered fraternal twins. He pushed the thought from his mind. There were already enough complications to think about. He certainly didn't need any more.
Young Jesse moved her head in close to both of theirs. They took turns kissing each other as Jesse held John close. After five minutes of shared kisses, Jesse looked at Young Jesse.
"You up to it love?" Jesse asked.
Young Jesse was very aroused. She moved down lower.
"Give it to me…." Young Jesse said.
Jesse released John and he rolled off to the side. Young Jesse moved in and took care of Jesse. John watched them for a few seconds and moved in back of Young Jesse. He took care of her.
Everyone was very pleased with everything.
John really wondered how the day could get any better.
Cameron and Savannah enjoyed each other with the moonlight serenade of the stars and the lapping sound of Lake Tahoe on the shore.
Savannah knew this was the best day of her life. There were times when she worked on Cameron and other times as they shared together. There were times Cameron worked on her. It was very intense. It was almost as if Cameron was captivated in one area. Right now Cameron worked on her and sent her over the top again and kept her there. Everything else ceased to exist except pleasure….
Cameron couldn't believe everything really happened. She felt it was the most special day of her existence. It was her fantasy for so many years come true. She'd never seen anything as beautiful as Savannah, everywhere. She'd been so close with Leticia, but this was what she'd waited for. It was what she wanted more than anything.
She wanted to take Savannah and run into the past. It could be just the two of them. Savannah was already pregnant with Vanna's baby. It could be their baby….
Wait.
What was she thinking?
Savannah shared pure sweet love with her. She wasn't a kidnapper. She needed to think about Savannah's needs too.
Cameron felt Savannah make it over and over. Savannah panted heavily and gasped for breath. She lifted her head and looked at all of her in the bright moonlight. Things were larger than when they'd started. Everything was even more beautiful now.
She waited until Savannah's breathing stabilized. She moved up next to her. Savannah's eyes were glassy in the bright moonlight.
"I love you, Cameron." Savannah said.
Savannah leaned over with great difficulty and kissed her. It was a love filled kiss.
"I love you, Savannah." Cameron said.
Cameron never wanted this moment to end.
Savannah was exhausted. She felt drained and weak. Cameron was everything she'd ever wanted. Cameron was always who she'd wanted. Slowly her breathing stabilized and she could see clearly again.
"I need to attend to your personal needs." Cameron said softly.
Savannah managed a faint smile.
"You just attended to my personal needs." Savannah said softly.
Savannah raised her hand and gently touched Cameron cheek.
Cameron lifted her hand and pressed Savannah's hand to her cheek. It was a simple gesture which said so much. There were a lot of things she didn't know but one thing she knew for sure. This was real love. It wasn't something programmed into her. It was what she wanted on her own.
"You need to eat." Cameron said.
Savannah suppressed a giggle
"I just did." Savannah said with a smile.
Savannah went to sit up. She was still tired.
Cameron carefully picked her up and carried her back into the fancy house.
She set her on a bar stool at the kitchen counter.
"Let me make you something." Cameron said.
Savannah wanted Cameron to make her something very special.
'Make me your wife.' Savannah thought.
Cammy was ready to leave. She really wanted Mary, Laura and Leticia in John's bed. She wanted Cameron to know too.
The girls returned from the restroom.
"What's next?" Laura asked.
Leticia wanted another adventure.
"I hope it's something exciting and dangerous." Leticia said.
Mary thought they'd faced enough danger so far.
"I hope it's not." Mary said. "Dangerous, I mean."
Sheila could think of a few things.
"I think we can find some action along the way." Sheila said.
Ally knew trouble seemed to find them soon enough anyway.
"Oh, brother, just what we need." Ally said.
Sheila was always ready for more. It didn't matter what it was.
"Action is my middle name." Sheila said.
Leticia heard Sheila say several other things were her middle name recently.
"I thought 'danger' was." Leticia said.
Sheila didn't keep track of all of her middle names. Everything fit the bill.
"It's that too." Sheila said.
Cammy thought about their eight years in the past. She knew what motivated Sheila.
"I thought it was 'poontang'." Cammy said.
Sheila was pleased with the thought. It was very descriptive.
"It's that as well." Sheila said with a smile.
Leticia thought Sheila had a lot of middle names.
Earlier:
The female Fanatic didn't think anyone would come out of the building right away. She saw it as their chance to move up to the building. She cautiously advanced forward with Jill. They were almost to the doorway when they heard some noise. The door was about to open.
"Get down." The female Fanatic said quickly.
Jill and the female Fanatic quickly lay down on the ground as the door opened. They saw the first man exit and look around.
"If he comes back this way, he'll see us." Jill whispered.
The female Fanatic realized things could go hot very soon.
"If he does, I'll try to draw him away." The female Fanatic said. "Once he sees I'm a female, I don't think he'll shoot right away. I'll try to get his back to you so you can stab him. We can keep things quiet if we're successful."
Jill I thought Jackie was better qualified to do it.
"I'll distract him and you can take him out." Jill whispered. "You have more experience."
The female Fanatic thought it was experience she could do without. Jill was correct.
"OK." The female Fanatic whispered. "I'm going to crawl off to the side. Try to get him to look back in the direction we came from. When he approaches, ask for 'help'. It will delay his reaction to shoot first and ask questions later. He'll be intrigued by the fact you're a female. You know how these guys think."
Jill knew all too well how they thought. They thought females, specifically her, were just things to abuse and throw away like trash. She's been down the same road with this group already. She didn't plan to revisit it.
The female Fanatic started to crawl away.
The first man headed back towards the main building. He thought he saw something off to the side as he went out. He paused for a moment and looked. There was nothing there. He thought about walking over to check, but decided he was chasing shadows. He knew he was on edge about all the events taking place.
He neared the big building. He paused and took one look around him before he went inside. He looked over in the direction of the mountain side. It was where the quarry was at. For some reason it bothered him. He didn't think anyone would attempt to breach the perimeter. He didn't know four individuals already had, in two groups of two. They were on opposing teams.
There was some electrical arcing noise off to the side as soon as he entered the building. He glanced over and saw the two technicians hard at work. He really hoped he knew what they were doing. They'd pretty much indicated to him they didn't. He decided to go over and take a look. The two technicians looked a little irritated as he neared.
"How was I supposed to know it would do that?" The first technician asked.
"You know this thing is unstable." The second technician said.
"We know the other group got it to work." The first technician said.
"Our guys may have seen them go into it, but we have no idea where it goes." The second technician said. "We have no idea what will come out of it either if we reopen it."
"There's only one way we're going to find out." The first technician said.
The first man approached them. He wanted to make his presence known. He coughed slightly as he neared them.
"Have you had any luck?" The first man asked.
The second technician looked a little irritated.
"I think it would depend upon what your definition of luck is." The second technician said.
The first technician looked at the second one and frowned.
"We were able to open it for a fraction of a second." The first technician said.
The first man was a little apprehensive. He looked around the setting they were in.
"Where did it open to?" The first man asked.
The second technician pointed at an area between the two emitters.
"It was right there." The second technician said.
The first man was a little confused.
"Are you sure it was there?" The first man asked. "There's nothing there but air."
The first technician looked a little indignant.
"There was, but not anymore." The first technician said.
The first man wanted to know a little more.
"Wait." The first man said. "So what you're telling me is, something appeared in the middle of thin air and tried to open or form?"
The first technician was very proud of his efforts.
"I think it needs a little more power." The technician said. "We have a tap into the high tension power line. Everything is 'jerry-rigged' through a transformer on the outside."
The first man was very skeptical.
"Maybe you need to change the location." The first man said. "Didn't you tell me earlier it was up against a wall before?"
The two technicians looked at each other. The reports from both locations where they heard about the device were against walls. They didn't think it mattered if it was a spatial portal. Maybe it did.
"We might give it a try." The second technician said.
The first man looked behind him. He could hear the sound of a forklift. He looked back in the direction for a moment. He returned his attention to the two technicians.
"You need to remember whatever you're dealing with is dangerous." The first man said.
The second technician looked irritated. It was what he'd been telling the first technician all along.
"Don't you think I know that?" The second man asked. "We need to find out what some other version of Skynet is trying to do."
The first man didn't want to enrage the two technicians. They already seemed upset enough as it was.
"Have you seen the two truck drivers who arrived here the other day?" The first man asked.
The first technician was down on the ground adjusting the emitter. He nodded his head in the direction of the forklift noise.
"They're both by the big rigs right now." The first technician said.
The first man cautioned the two technicians to be careful and left. He headed in the direction where the noise of the forklift was at.
The female Fanatic started to move away from Jill when the man turned in the direction of the big building and headed off.
Jill crawled up to where Jackie was at.
"I don't think he's coming back." Jill whispered.
The female Fanatic didn't think so either.
"Let's go see what's inside the building." The female Fanatic said. "He went in there for a reason. Even if the two truck drivers aren't in there, someone else probably is."
They carefully moved up to the building. The female Fanatic tried the door. It wasn't locked. She opened it a slight distance and looked inside. She didn't hear anything or spot any movement. She opened it more and went in. Jill was right behind her.
The female Fanatic held her Beretta in her right hand. Her knife was close by if she needed it. She didn't think the enemy would expect anyone to be inside of their camp. She should be able to threaten them with the Beretta first. If she could move up on them with the knife first, she would. She didn't spot anyone.
"This looks like a storage area." The female Fanatic said quietly.
Jill didn't see anyone yet. She held her Beretta in front of her as well.
"It's probably why he didn't stay in here very long." Jill said. "He came out rather quickly."
The female Fanatic didn't know if it was worth the risk of checking the other outbuildings or heading straight for the large building. It was a very large building.
"I think we should follow him." The female Fanatic said. "He said he was looking to find the two truck drivers. So are we."
The female Fanatic and Jill made their way across the compound towards the large building.
The two female Terminators watched the new development at the outbuilding.
"I'm pretty sure the man would have spotted both of them if he'd come back in this direction." Lena said.
Tina was ready to start with terminations. She wanted to thin the herd and wrap the operation up.
"We should move to each of the four outposts and terminate the two individuals currently manning them." Tina said.
Lena knew the drones could do it at any time with 'metal hail'. It was dark enough where they could move in low enough to use the gun without a problem as well. A missile was always another option. She didn't think they would be used in this case. They would need to conserve the missiles for other targets.
They watched as the two females made their way inside of the building. They weren't in there any longer than the man was. They exited and followed in his footsteps towards the big building.
They checked the drone images and moved towards the outbuilding themselves.
Lena I tried the door. It was open. She opened it a slight distance and listened. There was no noise inside. She opened it a little more and looked inside. She couldn't see any movement. She held her silenced Beretta in her hand as she entered.
Tina watched the area behind them as they approached the building. Lena opened the door. When Lena went inside, she took one more look around to see if anyone spotted them. There was no indication anyone had or anyone was moving in their direction. She quickly checked the drone images. There was no movement other than the two females towards the big building.
Lena and Tina began a search of the outbuilding.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Temporal Mission:
Past Timeline:
November 25 1963
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Cameron was pleased to see Young Allison had her Hi-Power with her. She had hers as well. It was time to get started.
The two girls exited the house and moved through the property to the rear. They passed along the side of the large garage and reached the rear fence.
Dawn already started. It would be sunrise soon.
Young Allison looked up towards the mountain to the north. She was aware of the difference between a mountain and a hill. A mountain possessed vertical zones of vegetation. A hill had the same vegetation at the top, as it did at the bottom.
"I know the Santa Susana Mountains are to the north of us and the Simi Hills are to the west of us." Young Allison said. "Other than an influx of hundreds of thousands of people and the 118 Freeway, the landscape looks the same as when I last saw it."
Cameron knew it wouldn't be long until Young Allison spotted the giant radar dome on top of Oat Mountain.
"You'll see something different when it gets a little lighter." Cameron said.
Young Allison already knew what it was. She'd studied all the images and read about what happened during the Sixties and Seventies.
"I know the Nike Base is there." Young Allison said. "I know it's LA-88."
Young Allison looked up to the top of the tallest section of the Santa Susana Mountains.
"I can see the white radar dome." Young Allison said. "I know the radar can look in all directions. Its primary focus is out over the Pacific Ocean. I really don't think it's the direction an enemy bomber force would ever actually approach from. At best, it could be some type of carrier attack. I don't think the cold war enemies are capable of such an attack during this time, or anytime period later on for that matter. The recent defeat of the Russian military in Ukraine was an example as to how inept the Russians are and how inept the Soviet Union and its satellite countries were."
Young Allison was aware in multiple conflicts around the globe, where Soviet Bloc equipment faced off with Western equipment, the Soviet Bloc equipment performed poorly. The biggest and repeat indicator of it was the multiple 'wars' fought in Southwest Asia. Every time, a much smaller nation was able to defeat the larger enemy forces of several nations. Their enemy was heavily laden with Soviet era equipment. Gulf War One and Gulf War Two only reinforced what was already known. Communist made equipment was junk.
"The most likely attack would be in the form of an ICBM." Cameron said. "In 1963, the US is phasing out the Atlas ICBM. There were multiple versions of the Atlas missile. There are also multiple versions of the Titan missile currently serving alongside of them and the newer Minuteman missile just introduced last year, in 1962. The Minuteman Three is still in service in our time period."
Cameron knew both Atlas and Titan missiles were used in the space program to launch astronauts into space. She remembered the original Redstone rocket was used on the first few launches of United States astronauts into space. It was a short range ballistic missile and the two flights were suborbital. The Atlas rocket was used for the orbital flight.
Both Atlas and Titan rockets were repurposed to launch satellites into space later on. They both proved quite capable and showed they would have been rather deadly if they'd ever been used in their original intent. The Titan missile was capable of carrying a very large warhead. Those warheads were 'city killers'. The Minuteman missiles which replaced them, carried smaller warheads. They carried multiple warheads. They could target a much wider area with one missile.
Young Allison often wondered why the space based defense system was never pursued. It was a much better method to bring down enemy missiles before they were over the target area.
"If any enemy missiles are launched, and they're actually capable of making it all the way to the United States, it would be a problem for us. We know it doesn't happen, but it did come close at one point in time with some submarine launched nuclear missiles." Young Allison said. "I honestly don't think the Soviet bombers of this time period would ever be able to successfully make it to the continental United States. They'd be lucky to target something in Alaska, or maybe even Hawaii at best. There's a lot of Century Series fighters waiting to earn their keep and bring them down."
They were already on a trail as they talked.
Cameron thought they should start out the first day with a set obstacle.
"You should be able to make out the rock formation we're headed for." Cameron said.
Young Allison could clearly make out the outline. There was a very distinctive feature on the top of it.
"I think we're headed for Stony Point." Young Allison said. "We can either cross the railroad tracks before Tunnel 28 to get there, or go over the top of Tunnel 28.
Cameron wanted to make a direct approach.
"We're north of Chatsworth Street." Cameron said. "We'll cross over the tracks before Tunnel 28."
They were soon at the railroad tracks.
Young Allison looked up at the obstacle in front of them. She knew it was a popular rock climbing destination later on. Right now it was mostly just hikers who might drop by. Most of them actually went to Chatsworth Park North or Chatsworth Park South for better recreational needs.
"This is where the double track will be extended to, from just north of Devonshire Street where it currently stops, to where we're at now." Cameron said. "It's still three decades away from now."
Young Allison felt some chills go down her spine. She knew exactly where they were.
"This is the location where a commuter train and a freight train experienced a 'cornfield meet'." Young Allison said. "It won't happen yet, for almost half of a century."
Cameron tilted her head slightly at the reference to a 'cornfield meet'. She quickly found information as to the originals of the term. Old steam locomotives were often run head on into each other, just to destroy them. It would usually draw a large crowd to watch the event. She realized it would be a dangerous endeavor. Boiler explosions often proved deadly for anyone around them. She was aware now, any surviving steam locomotives would be sought after by museums and parks. Later on, preservation groups would seek to get a hold of those static locomotives and attempt to return some of them back to operation. They were successful in a number of endeavors.
She was aware as to why the collision occurred, even with safeguards put in place. It was later determined the engineer of the commuter train ran through a red signal, a closed switch and onto the mainline right before the turn towards Tunnel 28. Reports indicated there was 'texting' going on in the passenger locomotive. The brakes were never even touched. There was a freight train coming down the grade from Tunnel 27. The head end just exited Tunnel 28 when the collision occurred. The locomotive of the commuter train was pushed back through the first passenger car. It was a classic example of 'telescoping' in a train derailment.
"Those were all human errors." Cameron said. "The machines only followed the commands given to them."
Young Alison didn't want to cause Cameron any unnecessary distress. There was plenty of light to see by, even if the sun wasn't up. She could clearly see the giant white 'golf ball' on the top of the hill.
"I can see the Fire Control Center for the Nike Base." Young Allison said. "It's a little harder to spot the missile launch area. I know it's half way up the mountain and level with the ground. The hangars with the Nike missiles are below ground. It doesn't seem like a very efficient system and it's certainly not very accurate."
Cameron figured the Nike Hercules nuclear missiles made the weapons much more effective than the Nike Ajax missiles with conventional warheads. Their extended range was also a benefit.
"There were always two bases, of the sixteen in the Los Angeles area, which were ready to launch on short notice." Cameron said. "To get the missiles above ground with their launchers could take up to two hours without any prior notice. The missiles were guided by radar towards the incoming targets. When the two groups would converge on radar, is when the Nike missiles would be command detonated. It was done by an officer in the Fire Control Center."
Young Allison figured the people in the Valley wouldn't mind so much the nuclear missiles flying over them, if they could stop incoming targets out over the Pacific Ocean. The targets would most likely be carrying nuclear weapons themselves. She didn't think there was much 'sunblock two million' to go around then, or any time.
"Did they ever perfect the ability to launch them towards the trajectory of any incoming enemy ICBM missiles to try to detonate or damage them in the upper atmosphere?" Young Allison asked.
Cameron knew it was done on paper. Well, with slide rules.
"It became part of the planning with NORAD and the Air Force." Cameron said. "The Nike missiles were part of the US Army as an extension of artillery units."
Cameron and Young Allison started up the side of the small hill to reach Stony Point. They left the railroad tracks behind.
Personal Lesson
It's always a good choice
To show some thought and compassion
It does no one any good
When there is needless aggression
It doesn't take much
To experience a transgression
When they begin to add up
It seems more like treason
It only takes common sense
To listen to a voice of reason
Everything needs to be kept in check
To prevent possession and obsession
When one has to pull back
They may need to make a confession
When nothing is done
It soon becomes open season
One must choose carefully
What they will keep or jettison
No one wants to be on the wrong end
To be taught a personal lesson
Nobody