CH 12
Around the table with a map of the US from the west coast to the Mississippi, John explained his plan to his Generals.
"Martin, move your troops to the northeast of this Sky Net facility. Go in as close as you can and not be discovered. You'll have the two M1-A's of Derek, so you have some long range fire power. Get to your starting place and wait. Derek, keep moving, take a wide berth around this Sky Net facility. Once you get past it, get loud with the radio traffic and keep a good rear guard. Keep destroying any Sky Net you come across. What we're looking for here is for Sky Net forces to come out and chase Derek's forces. Seeing a sizable force of resistance, I'm sure Sky Net will send out the troops to engage them. Once the Sky Net units are out and chasing Derek, give them tie to make a hundred miles, then Martin, you begin a long range bombardment with the M1's. I'm talking 2 miles away. The M1 shots will still be hitting with solid force, and the plasma rounds Sky Net uses will be diminished by the time they travel 2 miles though the cold air. You're looking to take out the turret guns on the wall. You want to open up a corridor so the Stugs can run in and batter the walls down. And do close-in damage. TX's and soldiers will charge in when you got some good holes they can get in through. Get soldiers inside, and some Stugs to run through the place and create chaos while the soldier look to blow up the power plant, then clean up any Sky Net forces they find."
"Mrs. Weaver, when Bedell is engaged, he's sure to get counterattacked by whatever forces are left in that complex. Fly your H/K's in low from the west, then pop up and work at the east side turrets from above. Derek, at the same time, turn around and attack the Sky Net units following you. If you can, get some Stugs between the Sky Net force and their base. We don't want them coming back to help."
John scanned the people around him and asked, "Questions?"
Derek rubbed a hand over his mouth and said, "We win this one, it will be big. If we loose it, we'll be fucked. We're using the majority of our strength here."
"The same risk as attacking into Washington State," Martin told him. "If we would have lost there, the entire west coast would have been open to Sky Net. From what I've seen, I don't think Sky Net believes we have any army near their Colorado base. The best time to attack is when they aren't expecting it."
Mrs. Weaver said, "Derek going around them and southeast will trigger a response. As soon as Sky Net detects him, he will be their number one target."
"Let's make sure I am," Derek stated. "I'll be telling men John Connor is with us, and 'relaying' his orders. That should get Sky Net to move their asses after us."
"Indeed," Mrs. Weaver said with a smirk. "I do have a suggestion."
John motioned to her. "Please share," he said.
"There are 50 T-800's with simple chips I made, not the AI chips, but they are combat capable. All these I planned to use for extra guards. I put an infrared beacon on them and march them in first. They get inside and General Bedell opens up with his barrage after they are in and shooting up Sky Net's terminators. They will be programmed to go after only other terminators that do not have the infrared beacon, and the wall guns," she explained.
John thought for a few seconds, then asked, "What about the TX's? Will they shoot at them?"
"Negative, TX's look visually identical to humans, these Terminators will be scanning by sight only," she explained.
"I like it," John said. "Martin?"
"The more the merrier, and a little faster to take that place down," he agreed.
"We're going to need a chain of radiomen to keep in contact," Derek said. "I'll have the rear guard drop men with radios as I go. Then we can coordinate a little better."
"Or, you can leave a force off the side, and fall in behind the Sky Net units. They can tell you when to turn back. We won't be leaving men alone in the middle of nowhere,"
John offered.
"Yeah, I do like that better," Derek agreed.
"Anyone else?" John asked. No one said anything, so he added, "Then we have our plan. We move as soon as everyone is ready."
.
Laura had come with Derek and waited outside the room to guard it with the other guards to ensure no one bothered General Reese. The meeting broke up, Mrs. Weaver came out, then Derek and John passed by. Cameron walked along behind them. Laura came up beside her. Cameron was another terminator. She wouldn't lie or evade questions.
Quietly, Laura asked, "Can I ask you a question?"
Cameron noted her very low voice wasn't even heard by the men in front of them. "Yes," she whispered back.
"You know General Reese?"
Cameron grew a smirk. "I do."
"I have seen him look at a picture in his left front jacket pocket. Do you know where that picture came from?"
Cameron's grin grew wider. "I do," she replied.
Laura waited. Cameron didn't say anything else. Maybe the question was too simple. "Where did it come from?" she asked, being more specific.
Cameron grinned at her and whispered back, "I can't tell you."
"If you know, why can't you tell me?" Laura asked.
"The person who gave it to him did not want anyone but Derek to know the significance of that photo," Cameron told her quietly.
"Can you tell me who the person is who gave that to General Reese?" Laura asked, looking for someone else to ask about it.
"I can, but I promised not to," Cameron replied.
Laura had what felt like a glitch that she quickly suppressed. Briefly, she wanted to grab Cameron, shake her and demand to be told where that picture came from.
.
The Sky Net segment that was operating the base in the Middle of North America had sent out all the older units to drive west, to find and destroy the human resistance that kept eluding it. Not one of the units it set out returned. Logic stated the humans had to be all but beaten. There were no more human operated air craft, their ground forces had been defeated after a long struggle, and in the cold weather, the survivors should be dead from lack of food and radiation poisoning by now.
Even if it's forces had found nothing, they were required to report back every seven days. It was possible they were out of radio range. If so, then why wasn't a unit sent back to report? With the deep snow, the only logical explanation was that they had gotten bogged down in the snow, and were trying to move.
The Sky Net segment worked to correct this defect Every unit if made now was being build to handle the snow. Wider tracks went on the H/K tanks. Terminators feet were enlarged, and some H/K tanks were made with plows to push the snow aside to make movement easier.
Scanning all the electromagnetic frequencies, it received a scratchy signal.
"General Reese here, General Connor said to search that town. Who's the closest?"
"Major Gentry, sir, Tell General Connor I have it in sight. We'll be going in shortly."
"Thank you, Major Gentry, I will inform him."
Sky Net immediately locked on the frequency and searched for the direction. General Connor was the prime target, and it had communications from humans. A new possibility opened up. If General Connor was leading this group, then it was possible he was destroying units once they left radio range.
Listening and using two directional finders, the Sky Net segment found a sizable human force 50 miles to the south, bearing 173. The movement was logical. Connor was taking his army south where they could find warmth and food, both of which they needed. If it could destroy them, then the resistance Connor was giving Sky Net would be erased.
The Sky Net segment knew if John Connor was allowed to settle and build up his forces, he would become a huge threat. That could not be allowed to happen. The segment ordered all but the basic 500 terminator guard force, 8300 terminators, all 98 H/K tanks, and the six new H/K's out to surround and wipe out Connor's human force.
Until it's force surrounded the humans, the H/K's were to shadow Connor and report to the ground column where the humans were, and their numbers. Once it's force got the humans surrounded, then the attack would come from all sides and they would be wiped out. The gates opened and the H/K tanks rolled out, followed by the long lines of Terminators.
The segment kept a direction and location of the humans until they faded out of range, their path had not changed. It then got reports from returning H/K's that the human force was moving faster away. It's forces were following, closing very slowly, but they were closing. At the current rate, the forces would meet in four days. Four days was acceptable.
Five hours later, a report came in from the gun towers that terminators were approaching the gates. A scan showed these were T-800's. The gates were opened to let them in. The only inconsistency was that they were coming in with no H/K tank backup. The Segment in the east must have concluded not many forces were needed here now.
Next, it detected a high energy round sailing toward the facility. The shell hit the base of a gun turret. The explosion toppled the turret. Then another came in from the east. Terminators were reporting being fire on by the ones who'd just came in. It also got a strong radio signal on the human frequency.
"Time to turn around Derek!"
It had to be code. It had to be a weak attempt to stop the terminators going after John Connor. The segment directed the turret gun fire to eliminate the shell fire coming from the east. In case humans dare to come close, it ordered the disobedient terminators destroyed, and it's terminators out to deal with whatever the humans had.
The turret fire was lessening as another turret was blown off it's mount, then another. The east wall was loosing it's big guns. In the distance, many more targets appeared, much closer. Plasma fire from these new targets rained down on the remaining turrets. The last disobedient terminators were destroyed, Sky Net's terminators poured through the open, and now inoperable gates to meet the threat.
H/K's came in low and popped up. Sky Net had time to question why some had returned to battle these humans, then the H/K's fired down on it's terminators and destroyed the last wall gun in operation along the entire east walls. The small vehicles half a mile away turned their fire unto the Sky Net Terminators coming out. The H/K's flew away to the east, giving parting shots at the walls themselves, blowing holes low in the walls.
Having it's defenses being destroyed, Sky Net sent out a strong signal for it's forces to return. Then it's antenna building was hit by a solid shell, blowing the building up.
.
Bedell watched as his 40 Stugs pounded the terminators coming out to face him. The tower guns were gone, and there were some pretty impressive holes on the walls that now looked like thin metal. He gave his order. "All forces, Attack."
The Stugs, towing sleds filled with men, raced at the diminishing force of terminators, firing as they went. A sled got hit, screaming men rolled off as the sled burned. The Stug jumped the trench and drove through the barbed wire. Strands caught and the Stug dragged some of the fencing with it as it came at the terminators from the side. It shot some and ran into others, rolled over a few and knocking them down. It turned and went into the gate, blasting a shot at one of the west wall guns.
Bedell's army destroyed the terminators and drove into the gate and holes in the wall. He had the M1's stop shooting and drive into the fray.
.
The Sky Net segment looked for an escape route. It's defenses were decimated, and the humans were inside now. Power to the remaining wall guns was cut. It had no digital escape route, nor was there any longer a link to the terminator factory so it could acquire a physical body. Power was going out all over the complex, then it stopped functioning as it's power was cut.
.
Derek had 60 Stugs in his two divisions. He ordered the reverse and got Gentry to run to the sides with just his Stugs. His men joined Jacobson's men on sleds to drive towards the following Sky Net forces. Taking a personnel carrier as his command vehicle, he carried 15 others, along with Laura, to direct the battle. In the open topped Carrier, Laura stood up to scan for these Sky Net troops.
"General, heat signatures ahead of us, H/K tanks ahead and to the sides, they are moving away." she announced.
He got on the radio, "Gentry, they're coming!"
Laura watched as a few of Jacobson's Stugs raced up behind the H/K tanks and shot their engine compartments. A few others raced between the tanks and fired into more H/K's. The H/K's fired at the ones farther away, they couldn't hit the ones racing right past them, they gun depression was now low enough. Laura relayed this to Derek.
"Listen up!" Derek announced. "The H/K tanks can't hit something right beside them! Stick to their asses and blow the hell out of them!"
"Gentry here, General, The terminators are all over the place. We're running though them and over them. Got a few hits on me but the armor's holding. This is a friggin cluster fuck, but we're bringing them down."
"No more in our area, heading for the mass to the left."
"Lost a track! We're immobile. Shi…" A far off explosion punctuated the end of his transmission.
The driver slowed as they approached the first burning H/K tanks. Men were now using these tanks for cover, shooting at the moving Sky Net machines.
A plasma round from somewhere passed right over Derek. He grabbed Laura by her belt and pulled down as he barked, "Sit!"
Laura sat. "I can't see well sitting down," she told him firmly.
"Any closer and that round would have split you in half!" Derek barked.
Laura stared at him briefly. "Any lower and you would have lost your head," she replied.
An hour ago, Sky Net forces were chasing Derek. Now, Derek's forces were chasing them, and Gentry's Fifth was in front of them, racing around to slow their progress and taking out terminators. Despite the mass of machines, Derek noted each machine was fighting it's own battle to move on. There was no coordination between them.
Men with skis were faster than Terminators with plates on their feet. Derek was loosing men and some Stugs, but Sky Net was losing terminators and H/K tanks faster. An H/K was right in front of them, shooting down into Derek's men. Seeing it, Laura fired back with her plasma canons. She hit it four times before it exploded. She then fired at the back of an H/K tank they were chasing. She hit it, but another turned it's turret around to point at them.
"Bail out!" Laura cried, Derek reached up to make her sit again, She grabbed his arm and flung him out, falling out behind him. The transport blew up as the plasma round impacted.
Derek pawed his head up and out of the snow. Seeing the burning transport, he cried, "Laura?"
Laura pushed the pieces of track off her and swam though the snow to him. "Are you OK?" she asked.
"Fine, Thanks."
"My job," she said with a grin.
"Did you at least get it?" Derek asked.
"Yes, but the other one got us."
"Can't have everything," Derek grumbled. He got up and sank back down to his knees. "Damn snow," he grumbled.
"There is snow shoes in the back," Laura said.
Derek looked at the burning vehicle and a few corpses that were being consumed. "You mean, there was," he corrected.
Laura stood up and sank down to her mid thighs. Seeing this, Derek chuckled. He held out his hand and said, "Let me help, we'll get you to those tracks over there. Stay on your knees and elbows."
While Derek helped drag Lara as she crawled, his army went on chasing Sky Net's diminishing forces without him.
.
Bedell had the Sky Net facility and posted watches all around it. Inside, he found three factories. They disabled a few more terminators, but they had taken the place. It was time to keep a watch out for any coming from the south and clean up all the disabled terminators and count his losses.
.
The H/K track Derek and Laura followed ended with a burning H/K tank. "Shit," Derek groused.
"General Reese, over there," Laura said, pointing to a form in the snow.
It was a fallen soldier, the chunk out of his chest where his head and neck would be attached was cauterized. His skis were still intact. Derek went over and got the skis and put them on. Much better. The man also had a .50 cal rifle. Derek grabbed that also. The battle had moved on, only flashes of bright light and range explosions in the distance, but he felt better holding a weapon just in case they met an active terminator.
While Derek did that, Laura used her plasma canons to cut out two piece of the H/K's armor. Cutting out a couple thin strips, she bent them, and used low power to weld them onto the plates. She stepped into the trackless snow and only sank to just above her ankles. Much better.
Looking at Laura, Derek noted she wasn't sinking nearly as much into the snow. He then saw her large, metal footwear. "Nice snow shoes," he said.
Seeing the rifle in Derek's hands, Laura told him, "If you shoot, that will make you a target."
"I feel better having something to shoot back with," Derek replied.
Laura morphed her arms back into plasma canons and held them up and said, "You do, me."
That made Derek chuckle, a dry sarcastic chuckle. He remembered Nancy's canons. He focused on Laura's large chest. "Gotta love a girl with a great set of canons," he said. "Come on, let's go."
Laura smiled and followed him.
Derek and Laura walked for another hour before a Stug with black pock marks all over it spotted them and came over. The commander popped open his hatch and said, "General! It's good to see you made it! Hop on!"
The skis made it hard to 'hop' anywhere. Derek got on with a little help from Laura, then he helped her on. "Status?" he asked.
"We won. At least, we can't find any active Terminators, or H/K tanks. Tons of wreckage around, I called Major Jacobson the moment we saw you. He's a few miles ahead, assessing the damage. General Bedell took the Sky Net base too. Looks like we whipped their asses."
"Good News," Derek agreed. "Take me to Major Jacobson. What's the news on Major Gentry?"
"He's getting his men back together. We're all over the place, Sir. This fight was scatted over miles from where we first engaged. Bedell says we got the piece of Sky Net that was running this area too."
"A good win," Derek said.
.
For John, it was a big sigh of relief that this battle was won. He took a personnel carrier with Cameron and Weaver out to the ex-Sky Net base. Catherine wanted to see the factories Sky Net had built. On the way, he fell asleep on Cameron's shoulder. She eased John down on her lap and stroked his hair as they ran along the now packed down tracks of Stugs that had come this way.
Looking down on John as she cradled his head and slowly stroked him, Cameron was happy. Her smart John was going to be her husband soon so they could tell everyone how much they meant to each other.
"I love you, and you love me," she said softly. Every day, she was sure that was more true than ever.
.
The cleanup from the battle lasted much longer than the battle itself. There was also the problem of logistics that had to be dealt with.
Cabling was started from Las Vegas to the ex Sky Net base (Now fire base George) to get digital communications to George. The problem here was finding enough coaxial cable to make the line. As of yet, they had no place to make coax. The rail line was plowed out, but didn't go near George, so a road had to be made from George to the railroad tracks that passed by 30 miles away. Help to build it up into a 'resistance friendly' base came from the caverns. Workers were sent for to make the air cleaners, gardens and plumbing needed for human habitation.
John was sure that there had to be humans here working as slaves, but there wasn't. So far, there were no work camps. John wondered if that was due to the breakouts from work camps the first time Sky Net nuked the planet.
Catharine Weaver enlisted all the TX's (except for Laura) to make the H/K tank factory suitable for turning out more Stugs. From what she had seen, and the battle reports, H/K tanks were more impressive looking, but the quick little Stugs were like a pack of wolves descending on a bull elk. H/K tanks were much slower and could only shoot one at a time, while the Stugs poured shots into it from every direction, and if the Stug got right behind it, it's doom was assured. It couldn't even shoot back. The Stug design was a stroke of Connor genius.
In the month that followed, John watched George take shape and start producing resistance terminators, Stugs, H/K's and for the first time, long range field guns mounted on H/K tank chassis. The long barreled canons were 160 MM and Weaver was making three types of shells. Besides the HE air or ground burst shells, and the seeking armor piercing shells, she also made rocket propelled shells that could fit either type of warhead on it. The possibilities of that had John thinking.
Six weeks after the battle, Derek finally moved out for Texas, now with 15000 men, 100 Stugs and 100 T-800's that were sentient. They were taught tactics by the men and TX's that had seen battle, as well as classes on morals and how to disable, not destroy other terminators, so they didn't truly 'die'.
John was concerned about one thing, they had heard nothing from the Alaska.
.
The snow level when Derek and his men reached Texas was minimal, one to two feet. So was the Sky Net forces there. Gentry's men had fought three minor skirmishes with terminators hunting for humans. The largest was a group of terminators coming up the road. The twenty terminators were no match for the Stugs that descended upon them.
.
Riding along in another personnel carrier, Derek followed their movements on the map. He sent Gentry to the coast to look for any place with docks and hopefully, facilities where they might be able to start a shipyard. After the battle for the George base, they had plenty of scrap metal for building.
"General, why won't anyone tell me where you got that picture of me from?" Laura asked as she gazed at him.
"This again?" Derek asked raising an eyebrow at her.
Laura frowned at him and firmly said, "It is a mystery how you can have it. By any logic I have followed, it shouldn't exist," she explained. "I was not around for your 'first round', with Sky Net, and as you said, there was no machine/ human cooperation then, so it couldn't have come from the future. I have never been in the place where that picture was taken, and by the age of the photo I was able to determine it was taken before I was made, so it couldn't have come from the present. Yet it does exist, even though it is not possible," she explained.
Derek let out a huff and said, "This picture really bothers you, doesn't it?"
"Yes, it defies all logic," Laura stated.
Derek rubbed his face and took a long breath. "It really isn't that important to keep puzzling on about it," he told her.
"I don't like illogical things," Laura stated.
Derek burst out laughing. Settling down his mirth, he chuckled and said, "Are you going to be in trouble, my dear."
Laura tipped her head slightly.
Seeing her watching him, he said, "You're going to drive yourself crazy over this if I don't tell you, aren't you?"
"I don't understand."
Explaining to her, he said, "What I mean is, you will never stop thinking about it until you get an answer that explains how this picture can exist."
"Yes, I must solve this mystery," Laura replied.
Derek thought about it. What harm could come from telling her the picture's origin? "All right," he said and leaned towards her. "This picture didn't come from the first future, but the one we're making right now. People from …the future we're making now gave it to me. They came back to correct a few things, and the one who gave it to me wanted to ensure… Ahh, damn. Look, I can't tell you why, just know this is a picture from your future. At some point in time, you will be there, and the picture will be taken. Will that satisfy you?"
Laura paused and said, "Yes, that is logical. These people came back and gave you a picture of me. Did they know we were going to meet?"
"They did," Derek said in a huff. "And before you ask, I can't tell you who or why."
"Do I know you when the picture was taken?"
"You know me now, so that's a resounding yes," Derek said firmly.
"Do you know about my future?" Laura asked innocently.
"Some," he said.
"Cameron has a family. Will I have a family some day?" Laura asked, doing her best to sound innocent.
"I can't tell you anything about your future," Derek said firmly. "Believe me when I say I know too much for my own good. I've had nightmares and drank heavily from … knowing what I know. Laura, it is not good to know your own future. Trust me on this."
"You knew you were going to have to fight Sky Net again," she concluded.
"Yeah, and that really sucked."
A grin played across Laura's face. "I bet it did. Am I with you through the whole war?" she asked.
Derek opened his mouth then changed what he was going to say to, "You must decide that for yourself."
"The person who gave you the picture said that?" she asked.
"Not in so many words, but Nancy did say that …" Right after the words left his mouth, Derek knew he screwed up and barked out, "SHIT!"
"Who's Nancy?"
Yeah, that question was expected. Gripping his head, Derek said, "Don't ask! In fact, don't ask anything more about the picture, the future, or anything like that again, PLEASE!" He then planted his hands in his face and rubbed vigorously.
"Keeping this secret is upsetting you," Laura noted.
"I need to find a liquor store," Derek said with a moan.
"Why?"
"So I can drink it."
.
Coming to a town by the beach, Major Gentry noted the buildings were intact. Moving slowly down the streets, he had his crews check for anyone alive. There were plenty of corpses, but no living people. One thing they did find were docks and boats floating along side them. Sky Net had killed all the people here, but hadn't salvaged anything. Cars were still parked and scattered around, some with bodies in them, others burned up. The grocery, hardware and gas stations were intact. Some bullet holes in the walls, nothing major.
Checking the map, Derek identified this place as southwest of Houston. There was ocean to cross, but the Mississippi was accessible. The ground was still radioactive, but it was not a high amount, and there was very little radiation in the air. All the fallout from Houston being blown up must have drifted east. He decided to make this town a lookout point.
.
John decided on a new mission. He noted that in the cold weather, plasma weapons had a short effective range. M1 tanks were made in Michigan. If he could get to that factory, he was sure there had to be some up there. The tanks that had run out of gas Gentry had were gutted out. They were towed to the George base to be rebuilt, or if that wasn't possible, scavenged for parts.
He set General Bedell back west with a train load of disabled terminators. Catherine Weaver got the new terminator line going, and was producing TX bodies. Making the bodies was the easy part, making and using John Henry's programs for them was harder. Unlike Sky Net terminators, he was using learning programs as a major part of the programming. Morals and basic knowledge were also in the programs. Major Jacobson's army now included 20 TX's who were currently sitting in classes to finish their basic education.
With three factories here, Catherine's two, and another in the Groom Lake base, the resistance had immense production power compared to the first Sky Net war. More that the resistance ever had previously.
Cameron noted this fact, and was pleased about it. The fact she wasn't pleased about was John was constantly busy. She understood he didn't have time to spend with her, except at the planning table, but he was also wearing himself out. He slept very little, only when he passed out from exhaustion, or when she made him lie down and relax. The Nanites she fed him now she had to squeeze out into a drink, they had no time for relaxing and snuggling. She didn't think John could relax, even if he wanted to. There were so many decisions to be made and the problems grew as the resistance did.
Cameron hated this war, she wanted her John back.
One thing Cameron noted that while John had other Generals to move his troops, he didn't have a true staff to help him. It was her and Catherine, that was it. Sitting back and holding John as he slept deeply, head on her chest, Cameron constructed a staff for him in her mind. She knew if she made suggestions to him and backed it with logic, John usually listened. Holding her love, she built a staff for him in her mind. She knew who was good at what, and made a list of names and what they would be responsible for. Most were already at work, they just didn't have the 'title' and authority to make decisions on their own so John wouldn't be bothered as much.
.
John came around with a groggy smile. He had the best pillow in the world. Even though they were going through hell, his Cameron would always be here for him. His moment of peace was interrupted as he woke up enough to start thinking of the current problems at hand.
"Morning, John," Cameron said sweetly.
"Morning, Cam," John replied and hugged her. He rose reluctantly and said, "Any news on the comms cable?"
"Yes, Mr. Santos is making new cable and plotting the run from Echo Base to Foxtrot," Cameron said and pulled him back in place. "John, you have people working for you, you do not need to get up yet. You need an hour and a half more of rest before you get up."
"Cam," John said in a moan, "I have things to do."
"As do I. One of those is to ensure your health. John, if you get sick, things will be much harder," Cameron said firmly. "Nothing is going to change in the next two hours. Relax, take a sip and clear your mind, just for the moment."
John chuckled. "You're going to keep me here, aren't you."
"Yes, you are my prisoner," Cameron stated.
John laughed. He snuggled into her and said, "I love you, Cam."
"I love you and you love me. That is why I am asking you to formalize a staff for you," she told him.
That made John look up. "A staff?"
"Yes, you run all over the place meeting with people. Sarah takes care of the caverns. Mrs. Weaver does the manufacturing. Each base has a commander. Mr. Santos is taking care of communications. There are many more. My point is that it's becoming too much for you to track them down. It's time they come to you to give you updates and explain any problems," Cameron explained.
"Cam, this is long distances we're talking about," John said.
"True, and you are running around to all of them. Do you even remember where we are now?" she asked.
"Echo base," John replied. "To see how the aircraft project is coming."
"That was yesterday. We're in Charlie to see how the food production here is coming along," Cameron said, correcting him. "I highly recommend that while we have a break from Sky Net, you call all the base Commanders, and all the people you have working on projects together. Make them your staff and pick a place to command from, then they come to you to explain how they are doing. It will also be easier for everyone to arrange cooperation with each other. You are not their running boy, they are your subordinates."
John had never really thought about it, but Cameron was making sense.
"If it is vital, of course go see what's happening, but for daily activities, have staff meetings. You will find out much sooner and be much less tired, and they will feel you trust them more," Cameron stated.
John sat up and kissed her. "Cam, I think you're right. Say, monthly meetings unless something need to be tended to," he said in a musing tone. "And when the data link is complete, it can be a voice meeting."
Cameron smiled and said, "Yes. John, you need more down time, and besides holding you when you pass out, we have had no 'us time' at all."
John's face dropped. "Ah no, we haven't. I'm sorry, Cam."
"No problem, I know how much you care, you just need to formalize your command."
.
John worked at doing just that. Some people were happy about it. Catherine Weaver thought it was about time, she believed firmly in 'board meetings'. Sarah grumbled at the idea. She was getting comfortable in the caverns and didn't want to leave.
Although John wanted to be near the front lines, Cameron convinced him he had to pick his Command Center someplace that would be central to the areas they controlled. He got word that Major Jacobson has made it to Denver, and since there was no military or industrial complexes there, the city had survived. There were many survivors who were also trying to organize some sort of resistance.
Seeing getting Denver survivors organized was going to take some time, John decided on Denver. It was in the middle of North America, after all.
The trail of vehicles going into Denver was long. A new version of the Personnel carrier was made to be cargo haulers. Loaded with equipment and men, machinery and food, Carries, Stugs and a couple real snow cats each towing sleds of men and supplies in a train three miles long, make their way to Denver, Colorado. Along the way, radio repeaters were set to make sure John stayed in communication with the rest of the Resistance.
Unlike the other places they had found, The survivors in Denver had enough to build their own 'safe places' against radiation, and with big hunting rifles, they had destroyed the terminators left behind.
.
Mayor Jason Franks was the more-or-less leader of the Denver resistance. After the bombs, he had the town hall and other building sealed up against fallout, and had micron filters put in the air handling units for the 'safe buildings. When the terminators came and started killing people, he railed the police and as many hunters s possible and fought back. They lost most of the police and hundreds who could not escape the terminators, but they won. Since then, he got volunteers and sent them for help, and organized the defense force to keep any other aggressive people or machines out of Denver. Rescue parties were also send out to look for survivors. Many were found.
Denver tried to be self sufficient, but the needed things like gas and groceries. Growing plants inside did not turn out well and the number of gas stations they had that actually had fuel left was quickly dwindling, meaning the number of generators they were able to run dropped. Three gas station owners were in jail for not wanting to give up their gas. Several for stealing gas, and many for getting into fights over food. The hospital was full of radiation victims. Radiation was something they couldn't stop.
"Mayor!" a defense man yelled as he ran into the mayor's office, still carrying his rifle. "There's an army coming, and they got TANKS!"
Mayor Franks let out a sigh. This was sure to be a death blow for their struggling community. He got up to go see what had come to destroy them.
.
Riding along in the carrier that was heavily guarded by Stugs, John sat by Cameron, holding her hand.
The radio spoke. "General, this is Captain Baker in the lead Stug, the way into the outskirts of Denver is blocked with wrecked vehicles, men are forming a firing line behind the block."
"Men, not machines?" John asked.
"Yes, I'm close enough to see many are sick, they are lining up, but haven't shot." Baker reported.
John called out, "Driver, break out of line, go to the front."
But sir …"
"Do it!" John snapped.
"Yes Sir."
Seeing Cameron eyeing him and looking worried, John said, "I'm going to talk to them. You can come if you want."
"Yes I will," Cameron replied flatly.
John watched them move out. Seeing the guard Stugs moving with them, he got on the radio and said, "This is Connor, guards, stay behind us. It looks like these people are nervous. Don't give them a reason to shoot."
Traveling up the line, they came to there the first Stug stopped, a hundred yards in front of a makeshift fortification using everything these people could find. John eyed the situation. The road here was packed down snow. He said, "Driver I want you to stop about fifty yards in front of them."
"Yes Sir."
When the driver stopped, Cameron clambered out. No one shot at her so she let John come out. John got out and held his hands up, shoulder level, palms out to the men. "Put your hands up, Cam," he said quietly. She complied.
John walked towards the line of piled up tires in front of a car. He stopped ten feet away and said, "I'm General John Connor, this is Cameron. May I speak to your leader here?"
"What'a ya doin here?" a man with a shotgun asked.
"Same thing as always when we find survivors," John replied. "We treat the sick as best we can, make sure people are fed and have a decent radiation free place to live."
"If that's the case, why'd ya bring tanks?" the man asked heavily.
"Because it's dangerous with those Sky Net terminators running around," John replied firmly. "We've been fighting them constantly, and winning. That's how we manage to get to you."
Another man came running up in ragged , but completely covered clothing and long coat.
The man with the shotgun turned to him and said, "This guy says he's General Connor. Says he's got food and medicine, but he brought a shit load of tanks with him."
"Only 35," Cameron stated, "And there is no feces involved."
The other man climbed over the car hood and down in John's side. "I'm Mayor Franks. You're army?" he asked.
"I'm the leader of the resistance," John told him. "We do have surviving members of the army with us, yes. As far as the US army, we do have the Fifth Cavalry, Major Gentry is in command. There's others here and there, but that's the only actual Army unit. Everyone else is volunteers from the people we've saved."
"Where did you come from?" Mayor Franks asked.
"Los Angeles. Just before the bombs fell, I tried to warn people. Very few listened. We've been fighting Sky Net ever since," John explained. "We came to make sure you people are taken care of and have radiation free places to live in."
"Hey, you're that guy!" Another man with a Winchester 30-30 said, pointing at John. "Yeah, he was on TV before the station quit broadcasting. He said we were going to get hit with nukes. I remember that."
Mayor Franks asked, "You knew it was coming?"
"We tried to tell people, they refused to listen," Cameron stated.
"We got ready for it and stocked up," John said. "After the bombs fell we've been doing our best to fight Sky Net, but there's not that many of us. We need all the help we can get. In return, we will help build your town up and show you how to grow food in enclosed environments so it's safe to eat, and make your generators run on hydrogen so you don't need gasoline. All you need is water, and there's plenty of snow around here."
"So, why the tanks?" Franks asked.
"We can only make so many vehicles, ad since we're fighting Sky Net, we need military vehicles. The Stugs are helping to pull the supplies and equipment we brought for you," John explained.
"How many people did you find?" Franks asked.
"To date? Around 300,000," John said.
"373,742 survivors," Cameron stated.
"They are all in this army of yours?" Franks asked.
"Negative," Cameron stated. "Only 42,163 are currently in our armed forces. We also have 475 gardeners, 2390 factory workers, 30 fishery personnel, 125 administrative people, 650 miners, 429 carpenters…"
"Cam, I think he get the idea," John told her. "What Cam is saying is that everyone helps out doing something for their community and the resistance. I'm just asking to come help your people here and if any man feels the need to fight against the one who wants to destroy humanity, they are encouraged to do so."
"Fuck yeah!" the man with the 30-30 yelled.
"You're gonna wipe these machine things out?" the man with the shotgun asked.
"We're doing better than that," John told him. "We take the disabled terminators, repair them, given them true intelligence and teach them what this war is about, then they fight Sky Net with us."
"Dude, that's some heavy shit," another man stated.
"We are in heavy shit," John told him. "Sky Net has already killed billions of people. It also destroys any AI, intelligent or semi intelligent machine it does not control. If we want to survive and the AI's do not want to be destroyed or end up as slaves, then we all need to work together."
"You have many of these AI machines?" Franks asked.
"434, besides me, as of this morning," Cameron said.
All the men looked at her.
"Nawww, can't be!" Shotgun man said. "YOU are a machine?"
"TOK-715. Guardian to John Connor." Cameron stated.
"No fuckin way!" another man cried.
"Yes way," Cameron replied.
"OK!" John said loudly, then asked, "Mayor, will you join us?"
Mayor Franks asked, "Denver will still be our town?"
"It will. We're here as allies, not conquerors. If you can see fit, I would like a building to serve as headquarters and a communications station, and of course to keep in contact with you, Mayor. Possibly trade later on after we do all we can to make sure your people are taken care of."
Mayor Franks said, "I have to call the city council together. Will you come to the meeting?"
"Of course," John said.
"We will," Cameron added. "I will inform the men."