Ch 8
Derek send two squads of Stugs after Gentry's soldiers while the rest of his troops searched the terminators and pieces to make sure they were all deactivated. Going though the wreckage, he inspected the H/K tanks. He noted first of all, the armor was plain steel, and not as thick as he remembered it. These had a gunpowder canon, not a chain gun or plasma canon. The gun was about 120 MM, and held plenty of power, again not the devastating power he remembered. This sky Net did not have the advanced weapons, yet.
The radio spoke. "Squad One in contact with US column. Sad shape, no ammo, tanks very low on gas, men stage two and three contaminated. Vehicles slow moving. Little supplies."
"Any sign of Sky Net?" Derek asked.
"Negative. Suspect they have not reacted."
"Help the column get here, best speed." Derek told him, then sent, "H/K's search for Sky Net column, engage if success is assured."
"Understood. What percentage is assured?"
Derek frown briefly. Right, he'd been around Cameron and her percentages. "90 percent or above. Otherwise, locate and report."
"Understood."
.
The pair of H/K's had launched their missiles but still had full loads of the 30 MM ammo. Flying as high and fast as was practical, they searched for movement below. 25 miles from the human column, they found the Sky Net terminators. they flew past, collecting data. 250 T-400's, three H/K tanks. Percentage chance to successfully destroy column, 94%. Once they flew past, they turned in a long arc and flew lower along the line of march, coming at the terminators from behind.
Targeting the last terminators as the fire point, they opened up with the 30 MM chain guns, moving the line of fire up the ranks, blowing T-400's to pieces. One held it's fire on a tank to batter through the armor, then the next tank. The other H/K ripped a large hole in the last tank. They flew past the front of the ranks and turned in opposite directions to survey the damage.
73% of the ground forces were gone, all 3 tanks had stopped, the one in front was on fire, then remaining T-400's fired back. Targeting individuals with 3 round bursts, the H/K's finished off the T-400's and flew towards the human column and requested new instructions. General Reese ordered them back to Las Vegas for inspection and refueling.
.
It took longer to get Major Gentry and his men to Las Vegas, than it did to charge out, attack, and kill the northern Sky Net column. Derek did not want to leave perfectly good M-1 tanks strewn about for Sky Net to pick up and use. Much bigger and heavier than the light Stugs, it took a whole squad of Stugs cabled together to move the heavy tanks, making them look like a team of horses. Gentry's trucks were easier, a single Stug could pull a truck full of men and supplies.
On the way back, Derek had Gentry ride in his command truck With the top hatch closed and running the air cleaner / heater, it became much more comfortable in the truck box. Derek and Major Jacobson pulled off their hood and masks. Sitting on benches,
Derek unsealed the now hot coffee and cups. He asked the red-faced Gentry, "Coffee?"
"Yes, thank you sir!" Gentry said gratefully, sporting a smile showing a few missing teeth.
Derek filled a cup and handed it over, got one for Jacobson, then filled his own. "So tell me, what happened to you out there?"
Gentry frowned and said, "Our regiment was in Texas, we fought and took heavy losses. Those machine don't stop. Yeah, we were picking them off, but they had more, and it was a 24/7 fight for three days. At first it was almost even, but they wore us down. When ammunition got low, and there was no more, and no reinforcement, we collapsed.
Command was wiped out, the front line was Swiss cheese with many breaches and these things even got into a refugee camp and slaughtered everyone. We had to retreat. I thought maybe by heading west, we could link up with another regiment." Raising his cup to Derek, he said, "I never thought I'd hear on the radio about a bunch of World War Two stugs wiping these those things out."
"A modification of the design," Derek said. "Low and fast, with enough armor to stop up to a 20 mm shell. A tank round would go right through one. We had H/K's take care of their tanks, then the Stugs went in and pounded their terminators into scrap metal." eyeing Gentry, he asked, "Do you know the state of the army?"
"Bad," Gentry said sadly. "We were suppose to be heading to the last known base that had supplies. We never got there. Those things came at us from in front and both sides. Trapped the whole Division. Our regiment lasted the longest, we had ten tanks which helped. After they ran out of shells and we ran out of Tow's there was no holding them back. We lost four tanks in the battle. Six tanks started out with us, only two remain, As they ran out of gas, we blew them up to keep Sky Net from using them."
"Understandable," Derek said. "We need to know if the army has any sort of command structure left. If possible, we want to work with the army to coordinate attacks."
"Our Divisional General was the highest ranking Officer we knew of," Gentry told him. "He was doing his best to try to link us up with someone. We thought we had a base to got to, but, well, we never got there."
"Sky Net probably has it now," Derek agreed. "Here's the deal, we were formed right before the bombs dropped. John Connor knew it was coming and tried to warn people. Few listened. Our primary goal has been to rescue survivors and make places for them to live. We've been fighting Sky Net when it presents itself, but we haven't gone looking for it. Like today, we picked up it's signals, scouted them out, and found you in between, so we attacked. We don't have many forces, or equipment yet. We're making things as we go. Old military doctrine, doing things the politically correct way, standard practices, it's all out the window. We do whatever it takes to find survivors and guard the ones we have found. I'd like you and your men to join us. We need every soldier we can get."
Gentry nodded, "Yeah, if you can beat these things, count us in. I'd like to keep the Fifth Cavalry Division alive as a unit, if possible."
"We don't have a Fifth Cavalry, so I guess you're it," Derek told him. "First, when we get to Vegas and do decon, medical checks and debriefings."
.
John got the message of Derek's attacks. He'd basically steam rollered over 700 T-400's and 8 H/K tanks, as well as saved the remnants an army regiment that was on the run from Sky Net. All 532 men in Major Gentry's force joined the Resistance as the Fifth Cavalry regiment. Just in time for the new batch of Plasma shooting Connorstugs and 700 recruits to join them.
In the supply train, which was a real train brought into service with an old steam locomotive, the Stugs and recruits rode with the other supplies of food and replacement equipment to Las Vegas. Upon arrival, Major Gentry and his men, Along with Derek and his force of trainers to teach Gentry's men in Stug tactics, were there to meet the train.
The recruits knew how to drive the Stugs and got them off the flat cars. Once the 30 machines were assembled in a long row, the new crews consisting of a recruit driver a gunner and with a the Stug commander from the 5th, lined up in front of their vehicles.
The recruits had already been taught how to drive, so they went out to the 'gunnery' range, which was the remains of the casino distinct. Upon first shot of the bright bolts that flashed though the air like lightning to blow huge holes in buildings, the teams were impressed. Once they got used to their new vehicles, it was out in the now snow splotched desert to practice maneuvering together and coordinating in separate groups.
Derek came by with Major Jacobson to see Major Gentry watching the maneuvers through his binoculars.
"So, Major, what do you think of out out-dated Stugs?" Derek asked.
Gentry bore a smile and said, "I think we can do some very serious damage to Sky Net with these things. Small, decently armored for their size, fast as hell and those new energy canons pack a serious wallop."
"Glad you're happy with them," Derek said. "General Connor has decided it's time for us to give Sky Net a good paddling. Do you remember that base you and your men were trying to get to? Well you get your chance for payback. General Connor wants it taken, and every Sky Net machine you can find, destroyed. The Fifth Cavalry get to lead the charge, followed by elements of Major Jacobson's Stugs and support units. You're to go in, wipe out the Sky Net units, then bring back every useful thing you can find. Remember to check any bunkers for possible survivors."
"I will be looking forward to doing so, General. When do we leave?" Gentry asked.
"Right after you are satisfied with your men's training," Derek stated. "One thing you should know, for fast movements, it is best to have your support troops ride on the outside of the Stugs. That way, you can rush into battle while the support can set up under guard. This Uses less vehicles, meaning if seen approaching, makes your force looks smaller. You can also get men where they need to go much faster."
Gentry nodded and said, "Yes, I saw Major Jacobson's men doing that, I thought you just lacked trucks."
"Part of General Connor's strategy. Tomorrow we will meet in the old shopping mall by the Command truck in the west end of town here to let everyone know the whole mission," Derek told him.
.
While Derek was setting up his attack plans, John was working on the northern portion. Scout forays into Oregon and Idaho still showed no Sky Net activity, but as elements of Bedell's Northern Army ventured deeper north into Oregon, searching for more survivors, they did run into some T-600's and t-800's patrolling towns.
John noted that while every terminator found was taken out, for them to be patrolling smaller towns meant there were mostly likely many terminators in that area. Why so far north?
The Resistance was moving too slow and with now an almost 20,000 man army, still way too small to do serious damage to a world-wide Sky Net. John's thought at the beginning was to out-tech Sky Net. He wouldn't be doing that by fighting on the ground. He had an advantage in North America because there was no satellite coverage here. The rest of the world wasn't so lucky. JJ had given him an important edge, he had to use that as efficiently as possible.
"Brought you lunch," Cameron said as she came in. She moved his map and set his plate down in front of him, then sat beside him. "Don't forget, we have to see Sarah at two, then a phone conference with Catherine Weaver at three thirty," she told him then kissed his cheek.
"I won't forget," he said absently. "Cam, we've got to take the rest of the communications satellites out."
"An EMP in high orbit would do it. World wide, we'd need two," she said.
"And nuclear missiles to get the job done. Don't have any in my back pocket though," He said with a crooked grin.
Cameron took on a thoughtful look and asked, "John, how do you know all the missiles were launched?"
"Because Sky Net launched them?" he asked, eyeing her. "It was directing all military operations."
"It was, but how do we know if one failed to launch?"
John looked at her. If even one missile had failed to launch, that would be enough to help. Then again, he said in a musing tone, "If it failed to launch, it's most likely broken, or didn't get the signal to launch."
"The ICBM's on land most likely received the signal, but with the communications out, possibly a submarine never got the word to Launch?" Cameron asked. "John, it's worth checking out."
"It is," John said. He then thought about the terminators in the northern coast. Washington State had a submarine base, those subs also carried nuclear missiles. Suddenly, he knew why Sky Net was up there. "Sky Net may well be at the submarine base in Washington State, trying to get their hands on more nukes," he stated.
"That would seem logical," Cameron admitted. General Bedell is up in Northern California, on the Oregon line. He has 12,000 men, Stugs, H/K/s and tactical missiles."
"As soon as he attacks, Sky Net will bring everything they got to stop him," John added. He thought about Derek, but Derek was too far away and was already on a mission of his own. "Cam, we have to rally forces here to go up the Nevada and Idaho side of the mountains, and attack Washington State from the east after Bedell has their solid attention. A fast strike force will be able to get through before Sky Net can organize a defense if we keep moving fast, switch roads to make it look like we're going to try to hit their line from behind, then shift and move north, only fighting what we are forced to fight, we have a good chance at getting to that base."
"We have much to talk about today. First, you can eat, or I can feed you," Cameron said firmly.
John looked at her, a wide grin spread onto his face. "Really?" he asked.
"The food," Cameron stated.
"Darn," John grumbled.
.
John did mange to eat something solid as they rode a cart to Sarah's office in the Caverns. Like everything else, Sarah's office had grown. There was even a make shift sign hung up by the door that said, 'Cavern Queen', as people were now calling her.
John and Cameron sat down a Sarah went thought all the stats and information reports. John was pleased that they had 1600 new recruits from the caverns, which was now holding 87,000 people.
Once Sarah was done, John said, "Mom, we're going to need more recruits. I have an operation I'm planning, and if it goes bad, we'll need many more soldiers, much faster."
Sarah eyed him and asked, "What incentive do I use to get them to join?"
"How about saving our race from extinction?" John asked.
"We're actively fighting Sky Net now, aren't we?" his mother said, more confirming than asking.
"We are. You know it was coming, Mom. A least we have a solid base to work from," John told her. "Derek is engaging Sky Net forces in the eat, and Martin is facing them in the north at the Oregon boarder. We knew this fairly peaceful time would end."
Sarah nodded with a huff. "You're right. I can use any incentive I want?"
"As long as you can back it up, yes," John agreed.
Consider it done," Sarah replied. "When you talk to Weaver, tell her we need more uniform cloth. As much as she can supply."
"Will do, thanks Mom."
In is phone conversation with Catherine Weaver, John learned hey had ten more Plasma Connorstugs ready, and from the naval base and the Palmdale air station six crates if 20 mm shells to deliver. Normally, John would have them all sent to Martin or Derek.
"Thank you. Mrs. Weaver a always you have been invaluable to our Resistance. Have the new Stugs sent to Delta, along with a crate of those 20MM shells. Two crates out to Derek and three to Martin. Martin's forces are going into action very soon. Sarah is going to need much more material to outfit uniforms for recruits, as much as you can manage."
"I can do that John. May I ask why the unusual request for the disbursement of materials?" Catherine asked.
"I was about to get to that. We found Sky Net is in Oregon and Washington state in the north. It is possible some submarines didn't get the order to launch their nuclear Missiles. I think Sky Net is going after those missiles. I want to get them before Sky Net does. I'm taking another force east of the mountains while Martin attacks them from California. I am hoping he will draw their full attention so we can drive in from the East and make the coast to take that base."
"I see. This is critical. Very well, I will see you with the supplies in two days."
"Thank you, Mrs. Weaver," john said sincerely.
"As John Henry says, friends help friends." she said and hung up.
.
Sky Net found submarines were unaccounted for. Some were caught at dock, others were torpedoed as they launched missiles, but a few were still roaming the oceans. The underground sub base in China had been hit by a ground penetrating bomb, it wasn't sure how many were in there, for the whole facility was collapsed. To dig them out would require much effort, it would be easier to try and raise the ones sunk at harbor in the north west US at Bremerton, Washington. When it was ready to take on whatever was in North America, it wanted the nukes on that ship to ensure John Connor could not stop it.
A fleet of H/K's took T-800's and ensured there were no humans at all in the area, and set up pickets around the base and farther away for a multi-level defense of the area, then it sent a ship of machines and the newest T-800's armed with plasma rifles to find and pull that submarine off the bottom.
So far, the plan was working well. The ship was approaching dock, and as of yet, there had been no organized human response, nly getting rid of the humans that had survived the bombs.
.
Snow was deep in the north. Even around fire base Delta, four feet of show had collected. Deep enough that with light reinforcement, tunnels could be made in the snow that bulged up only a couple feet higher and Stugs could drive through.
Anticipating deep snow from the beginning, Catherine had made the Stugs with 18 inch wide tracks, plenty wide enough for them to drive on the snow. From the train station to the southern entrance of the Caverns, a tunnel had been dug underground. The train station looked like a wreck on the outside, but was reinforced on the inside, and had two pop-up anti aircraft batteries of missiles, waiting for a Sky Net H/K to show itself.
Although the train tracks were clearly visible, needing to be plowed, even if they were destroyed, it would only be an inconvenience. All the bases were connected by tunnels.
The train offloaded, carts took supplies into the tunnels, the Stugs were driven by their crews.
Inside the caverns, another long line of recruits marched off down to the subway station to eventually join General Bedell's forces. In this group, Cindy marched along with them. She'd lied about her age, and was assigned a position as 'field medic'. As least she was going to do something to help her sister Cameron.
.
John was nervous. This was a big operation and truly committed them to a battle, that if it was lost, they would have a hard time recovering from, if they could recover. All of Martin Bedell's men were going to surge forward and attack into Oregon. All of his Stugs here would be committed, and finding out Derek's raid farther east had come back, intact, he had the new Fifth Cavalry, which was true army, send to meet him at a point on Idaho to strengthen their eastern attack force.
John was betting everything on making sure Sky Net didn't get their hands on any more nukes. Whoever got them could indeed change this war.
Since they had to move fast, Only Stug crews an extra soldier that could fit in the Stug after it was filled with ammo, were coming with him. 20 Stugs, ten 20 mm mounted, and the 10 plasma mounted Stugs Weaver was sending would go north into in Idaho and meet with the 30 from Fifth Cavalry to make this attack. The rendezvous was in five days, then same day Martin was going to attack. Cameron and John Henry computed it was going to take them four to six days to get through the mountains, even with the snow-skimming Stugs. By then, Sky Net would know they were being attacked in the south, and move the bulk of their forces to meet the attack. Even if the guards left behind saw John's force coming, there was no way they were going to stop it.
.
Dressed in his combat gear, John wanted to be in the lead machine when they left. Walking to the line of machines waiting to be let out, the crews waiting by their machines, he saw Cameron sitting on the lead machine. He knew it was her when she firmly said, "John, you are got going in this machine."
"Cam, I made this mess. I have to go. I AM going." he stated.
"I know," she said softer. "I am sill your protector, John, so you ride in the second one," she stated, and pointed to it. "We both have exterior view cameras and periscopes, so there is no need to stick your head out to look around."
"The misuses pulling rank?" one man asked. A few chuckled.
"Yeah, now you know the truth," John said with a heavy sigh.
Everyone laughed.
A quiet rumbling sounded and grew in the passageway. The lead Stug announced the arrival of Weaver's latest machines. Behind it, nine more rumbled into view, the line stopping behind the last parked Stug of Delta's stugs. The top hatch opened and Mrs. Weaver got out. Despite all the shit that had gone down, she still had her white dress on, and her red hair looked as shiny and well kept as ever.
"Mrs. Weaver?" John asked, not expecting her to show up.
"General, Call me Catherine," she replied as she stepped down off the Stug. "For a mission as important as this one, I hope you do not expect me to stay behind. Everything is going well in our bases, there is no need for us here." She eyed Cameron then John and added, "I am sure you agree. That is why both of you are dressed to go also."
John shifted in place and nodded, "Yeah. This is real important." He looked at the muzzle of the thing atop of Stug she was riding. It wasn't a gun, it looked more like one of those kerosene garage heaters that resembled a jet engine, only a dull silver color.
"That's a plasma Canon, John," Catherine said with a smirk, dropping formalities. "Even with these, I do hope we are joining up with more units?"
"We are, in Idaho," John agreed. "The Fifth Cavalry will be joining us with 30 more Plasma Stugs. We don't want to just push over the mountains, we want to race though them and run all the way to the coast."
"Time is of the essence," Catherine agreed. "Besides my crews, I have added an extra to each Stug. The first ten TX's are coming with us for extra for support. Would you like to meet them?"
"Yes, Please," John said. Cameron came over to stand by him.
Catherine called them out. Unlike humans who were bundled up and covered up, the young looking men that appeared in plain shirts and pants were variations of John Henry. Some had darker skin, different colored hair and one had a short-trimmed beard. Smiling a little more normal that John Henry's creepy near-sneer smile, they waved to John and Cameron. John and Cameron waved back.
"I take it John Henry had a big influence on them?" John asked.
"Indeed," Catherine said with a nod.
John looked around and said, "I'm going to give everyone a briefing, then we go. Seeing how confined we are down here, everyone mount up, and I'll give it over the radio."
Cameron yelled, "Mount up!"
John got in the second Stug behind the driver. It was cramped in here, he was shoulder to shoulder with the Stug Commander on one side and an ammo rack on the other. His seat, like all of theirs, were the tops of the food storage containers. The back of his seat was the firewall to the engine compartment below, and access to the gun above.
This was going to be one long ride.
John took his headset from the commander with a thanks. He noted that the helmet he put on had a ghost image of the exterior.
"Bob, kill the lights," the commander said.
Now all John could see was the back of the Stug in front of him. Turning, it appeared he was looking through the hull of the machine he was in.
"Three Sixty exterior video coverage," the commander explained. "Keeps people from sticking their head out for a look and getting it shot off."
"Nice," John said. He keyed his mike and said. "This is John Connor. We are going on a vital mission, and I want everyone to get there in one piece. Towards that goal, make sure you maintain situational awareness. What's around you and where you are. There's going to be deep snow where we're going, possible blizzard and whiteout conditions. Do your best to stay in visual contact. In the case where visibility is very low, use your radio direction finders and compass to keep from getting lost. If we run into low visibility conditions, the lead stug will put out a five second signal every minute to keep us on track. If someone breaks down or gets stuck, everyone stops until the situation is resolved, or the unit has to be left behind. In five days, we expect to meet the Fifth Cavalry unit from the Eastern Resistance army. That same day, The Northern Resistance army will begin their attack into southern Oregon. When we meet the Fifth Cavalry and pull out. We will move as fast as possible into and over the mountains into Oregon and drive for the Northwest Coast towards Bremerton and the Submarine base there. Our goal is to keep Sky Net from getting their hands on the nuclear weapons in that area. It is vital we do so. Good luck to everyone. Major Grammer, open the door and let us out."
.
On the surface, a mound of snow raised up nor far from a base of a hill. In an explosion of snow, a Stug shot out to race off, kicking up a cloud behind it. right behind that one, another emerged and another. By the time 20 Stugs had driven up out of the snow in one spot, there was a crater in the snow showing a deep hole with tracks leading from it. The mound settled down, closing off the deep hole and partially collapsing the walls of the snow crater to leave a deep depression of jumbled snow, leaving no hint of where the tracks came from.
.
As they floated along on the snow in the mini-blizzard caused by the lead Stug, John got familiar with how these things worked. The front seats were driver and gunner. Both seats had controls to do both jobs in case only one man was present. The rear seats were also set for a dual role, long range observer and radioman the other seat Commander. One seat could, and usually did both jobs. The spare seat was used to store extra rations during scout missions and long patrols. John was taking up that seat now, as was an extra in each Stug, so they had some foot soldiers when the time came they needed to intrude into places a Stug didn't fit. having no room for a rifle, the .50 cal rifle was in a storage box on the roof. Obviously, John would not be getting it out in the middle of a firefight. Inspecting the inside of the Stug and learning how everything worked kept John occupied for a few hours.
They traveled until the daylight that did show itself was getting dark. A red, rear light showed on the lead Stug. Cameron's voice came on. "All Stugs, activate read ID light."
Right, A red light for the ones behind to follow. A bright light might attract the wrong kind of attention. They moved on until what felt like had to be midnight, then Cameron called a 'slow and halt nose to tail', then directed the Weaver squad to pull up parallel to the Delta squad, fifteen feet between squads.
On the backs of each vehicle were their bedrolls, more supplies and canvas. By making two lines close together, digging out some snow in between the rows and piling it at the open ends, then stretching canvas from one row of vehicles to the other, they made a impromptu shelter. Just to move and not have to sit in one place felt really good, John thought. He and many others took their time to stretch out joints and muscles from sitting most of the day. Bedrolls were laid out in the snow beside tracks and in between the vehicles, leaving a path down the center of their shelter. With the Stug bellies nearly touching the snow from the tracks settling down, the air inside the shelter was calm. The TX's, Cameron and Weaver took the watches and listened for radio traffic.
.
The next morning, they packed up and were off again. By afternoon John was becoming bored, and by the faces of the others, they were too. After a couple of hours driving along, The driver then called out, "Who'll carry the mail?"
Confused, John asked, "Mail?"
"I'll carry the mail," the gunner announced.
"Through the jungle?" the driver asked.
"Through the Jungle!" the gunner stated.
"What about the lions?" the driver asked
"Aww, fuck the lions," the gunner said.
"You'd fuck a lion?" the driver asked.
"I'd fuck a lions's mother!" the gunner said.
"Why you lion mother fucker! You should be tied to a tree and forced to eat ex-lax!" the driver announced
"I'd shit."
"You'd die,"
"Then, who will carry the mail?" the gunner asked.
"I'll carry the mail," the commander said.
The gunner asked, "Through the barnyard?"
"Through the barnyard," the commander stated.
"What about the chickens?" the gunner asked.
"Awww, fuck the chickens." the commander said.
"You'd fuck a chicken?"
"I'd fuck a dirty chicken!"
"Why you filthy, foul fucker! You should be tied to a tree and forced to eat ex-lax!"
"I'd shit."
"You'd die."
"Then who'll carry the mail?" the commander asked, and looked at John.
"I'll carry the mail," John offered. This was silly, and not boring so he'd give it a try.
"Across the lake?" the commander asked.
"Across the lake," John confirmed.
"What about the fish?" the commander asked.
"Aww, fuck the fish," John told him.
"You'd fuck a fish?" the commander asked.
John had caught the basic flow of this game. The 'mail carrier' got a place to carry the mail, then an animal to disregard, 'IE : To 'fuck,' then he had to make up a modification to the animal that would come up with a proper insult. John decided to say, "I'd fuck a slippery fish!"
"Why you slippery fucker, You should be tied to a tree and forced to eat ex-lax!"
"I'd shit."
"You'd die."
"So, who'll carry the mail?" John asked. Now, he was to set the place and the animal, and the next 'mail carrier' had to decide on the modifier, then he was to make it into a proper insult.
"I'll carry the mail" The driver announced.
"Radio contact, Sky Net frequency, too short to get a direction on," the Gunner announced.
"Did you get a rough direction?" the commander asked.
Cameron's voice came on the radio. "We got a Sky Net radio signal, 4.7 seconds in length, rough direction is northeast."
"What she said," the gunner offered.
John keyed his mike and asked, "Anyone got anything visual from that direction?"
"Negative."
The silly game forgotten, John visualized the map in his mind. "That is roughly the direction the Fifth Cavalry is coming from. Stay sharp, people."
Now intently searching for further contact, John watched the landscape in his helmet closely. He studied the clouds overhead, looking for any movement. That transmission could be from an H/K.
"We passed over the Nevada Border," Cameron announced. "Current snow depth is four point 9 feet. light snow ahead."
Not long after her announcement, they ran into a snow shower. The flakes were big, but didn't obscure vision greatly. The land was rising into tall foothills, ahead, the lead Stug slowed to turn and climb up onto a road, by the look of the signs sticking up out of the snow. The road went through a saddle between hilltops the started back down.
"We have tracks ahead," Cameron stated.
Again the lead Stug slowed. The road went down a short ways and turned. dual tracks did run from a valley on the right, onto the road and followed the road farther on.
"Everyone, listen up," John announced. "Cameron, continue following the tracks on the road up to the top of the next rise, Catherine, take two Stugs and follow those tracks up that valley. Everyone else, we keep following Cameron thirty yards back in case we need maneuver room. Move ahead and keep sharp."
The line moved on, Catherine had the Stug behind her follow her up a notch in the hill. The sides were steep and the passage was narrow. The wheel tracks were wide, but by some spots that showed slipping, this vehicles wasn't tracked. Coming up to a much less steep, almost table top flat area, Catherine noted a house and a tall truck the tracks went up to. Catherine motioned the Stug behind her to move of her left. The Stugs stopped in font of the house. a man wearing long underwear and a coat came out with a pump shot gun.
Catherine opened her hatch and stood up, raising her hands in the air. "We mean no harm, may I come talk to you?" she asked.
"Ahh," the man mumbled, gaping at her. "Lady, ain't you cold? and watcha doin with those tanks?"
"There is a war on. Have you seen any machines recently?" she asked.
"Heard a few jets go over, I dunno, couple months ago? Been going down ice fishin, haven't seen nothin unusual 'xept bear tracks. Looked like he was running to or away from something. By those tracks, he was haulin ass when he went through."
"Do you have a radio?" Catherine asked.
"Got one, but the batteries are dead and the creeks froze so my waterwheel don't work. Last time I had it on, wasn't nothin on anyway. Just some of that hissin, then it kinda squeaked. And quit all tagether."
Catherine deduced this man was telling the truth. "Sir, if your truck works, you can follow our tracks back and find shelter. They'll give you food and a warm place to stay," she offered.
"That's OK, only got a quarter tank left, I gotta conserve. I'll fill'er up down in town probably next week, gotta go to the store anyway." he replied, waving a hand to wave her off.
"Where is this town?" Catherine asked.
Pointing, he said, "Just go down the hill past the lake, road runs right through it. Can't miss it."
"Sir, when was the last time you were there?"
"Spring time. Traded my furs in, got supplies, filled the truck. Normal stuff. If you need gas for those, there's only one station, an don't let Elroy talk ya into his moonshine. He's friendly but his shine is weaker' shit! Better off drinkin water."
"Sir, that town might not be there any more," Catherine told him.
"What shit you talkin? Everyone up and leave?" he asked.
"It may have been destroyed in the war," Catherine told him.
"Oh bullshit! Ya kin see it from over yonder here," he said flinging an arm. "Lemme git some clothes an boots, I'll show ya."
Catherine's tank commander poked his head up. "Mrs. Weaver, General Connor wants to know if that man knows anything."
"Tell him we might be able to see the next town from up here. I'd recommend not going past the lake until we get a look at it."
"Right, Ma'am."
The man had gone in his house. He came back out with clothes on under his coat, a furry hat and boots. He was still holding his shotgun. He waved and said, "This way, ya kin drive that thing if ya want, looks like ya got no boots."
Catherine called down into the Stug, "Follow him."
The man walked across the flat and climbed up a gently ridge to stop and motion them up. Catherine instructed the driver to go up to the edge. She walked onto the front.
The man came closer and pointed. "Ya see the lake down there? Follow that strip- o-snow, that's the road. It's a ways off but ya kin see the town down there."
Catherine asked for binoculars. The town was seven miles away. She could easily see it but used binoculars so she could see fine details.
"Ya see it?" the man asked.
"I do," Catherine said as she zoomed in on broken windows. She saw humps of snow in the street, and an open door showing part of a snow covered body. A car was against another building, and bullet holes riddled almost every building. Still searching the town, she said, "Commander, Tell General Connor the town has been attacked. I see no active terminators on the street. No tracks in the snow … no activity."
"What?" The man asked. "Who'd be attackin them? They're good people down there!"
"Sky Net," Catherine said, "And it doesn't care if people are good or bad. It kills everyone. Sir, you should follow our tracks back and head for shelter."
Firmly, the man said, "I know ya mean well, but this is MY Mountain, and I ain't levin it fer nothn! If I gotta defend it … so be it but no ones' gettin me ta leave!"
Catherine nodded to him. "Very well. You should probably follow us down into town and get what supplies that are still there, while you have us for cover."
The man looked at the town and said, "That might be a good idea. I'll git the buckshot loads an the Winchester."
.
John didn't want to roll slowly into town. He decided to charge down to get the most guns in place before any metal was able to react. Flinging snow in a cloud, the Stugs raced into town then slowed and stopped in a line, the gun pointing at the buildings Once Catherine Weaver and the last Stug arrived, John ordered the scouts out to inspect the buildings. He got out and opened the case holding his .50 cal rifle. Ahead of him, Cameron did he same.
The streets hadn't been plowed at all He got off to find himself hip deep in snow. Cameron struggled over to him.
"Search every building!" John called out, and headed for the house in front of him. To Cameron, he said, "Whatever happened here, happened before the snow."
"I found no heat signatures," Cameron told him.
The only moving thing they found was when the mountain man arrived in his truck. He crawled out his window and got in the bed of the truck. He put snow shoes on and walked easier than anyone else.
It hadn't been a battle here, it was a slaughter. The frozen bodies of people were everywhere. The mountain man went into the general store. Sticking his head back out, he called out, "Hey, they weren't here ta rob! Nothin's been taken, not even cash in the register, and the racks of snow shoes and skis are still here. Ya fellas better come get some!"
Three places down, John heard him and knew that was an excellent idea.. He went to get some show shoes.
Terminators were heavier, but with two by sixes from the hardware store strapped to their feet, they were able to walk on their four foot long 'show shoes' and stay above the snow. It looked funny, but later on, John knew that snow shoes and skis may well be an important tactical advantage. What made it better was seven of his men new how to cross-country ski.
By the end of the day, John's skiers taught others. Seeing this new skill, the TX's, as well as Cameron and John, took the time to learn what might be a vital skill.
They got the Mountain man (who never offered his name) to the gas station and showed him how to open the plate for the underground gas tank and use a hand pump to fill his truck.
In the hardware store that also sold guns, The biggest thing John could find was a .40 caliber 'bear' gun. It was a magnum. John got all the ammunition for it and took it to the mountain man as he was filling his truck.
"Got you something," John told him and put the gun and ammo in his truck. "That 30-30 you got won't do any damage to a terminator, your shogun's questionable. I go you the biggest rifle I could find. Keep it with you. If you see a kinda human shaped machines, go for it's eyes or if you can," John point to his head where the chip plate was. "Try to him it right here. Though, your best bet is to hide."
"Thank ya," the man replied. "You fellas off to go catch the ones who did this?"
"We are," John said firmly.
"Then good luck to ya, and doan go easy on'em, talking'em ta jail and shit. Ya shoot those Lilly- livered bastards on sight, just like they did ta these folks!" the man said angrily.
"You can count on that" John replied firmly. "Hope the best for ya. If you see any metal people shaped things, remember what I told you."
"Will do. Oh, if ya kin find some shine, I'd preciate it"
"Got it," John said with a grin.
The Stugs now having snow shoes and skis strapped to the back with the rest of their supplies, the Delta force moved out down the road, still having a couple hours of daylight left. The mountain man went back up with his loaded down truck of at least a full year's worth of supplies.