CH 29
Sky Net segments in Asia were getting concerned. First Spain went off line, then Europe. Studying the events logically, an invasion was taking place. How it was, there was no data. The segments all agreed they needed to know what was going on in the west. First, a new segment was partitioned out to be put in Poland. This segment was to be delivered in place by units in northern Russia. Once on place, Sky Net Poland was to investigate why Sky Net Europe was not answering and head west in search for a possible human army. Another segment, Sky Net Istanbul, was to complete the task of helping Sky Net Africa in guarding the north African coast, and send many units to find out what happened to Sky Net Spain. Sky Net North America was to investigate the British Isles to get the status of the situation there.
Humans were highly suspected as the cause due to a digital type transmission that units were picking up that were not Sky Net code, nor were they authorized by Sky Net. Deciphering the transmissions in the human style Morse code, only pieces were coherent. It could be those bits were coincidental to digital code. Digital rules were applied, and again, only parts made sense. Sky Net applied 16, 24, 32 and 48 bit protocols to the transmissions. It kept trying to find a pattern that would decode the entire transmission.
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Derek thought they were doing well. With the Town of Nancy as their base, his army expanded out, finding terminators and disabling them for their chips. The largest expansion was to the north so they could get to a coast to make a port. Antwerp was the goal, but even it they only reached the coast, then they could get more supplies and send back the disabled terminators, and the few people they had found.
The living room of the house became the Command center. A solids burning furnace was built into the house. Since the air had to be cleaned anyway, the cold air coming in passed over the top of a Sterling engine, while the bottom sat on the furnace. with the large temperature difference, the engine lit the house LED lighting for the common rooms. The sitting room that Anne loved was partially lit by her oil lamp, which made the house smell nice. A few trips to the 'neat stuff store' as Anne called it got them the rest of the stock of lamp oil as well as an assortment of candles.
Laura was strict on how the house was partitioned inside. Derek's work was in the 'command center', and if they worked late, like they usually did, then they were allowed in the dinning room to eat as well. No one but her, Derek and Anne were allowed in the sitting room, or in any of the bedrooms. THOSE were 'family' areas. of course Anne had to stay out of the command center also.
With Anne's breakfast every morning, Laura made sure she got breast milk to drink. Maybe she was just happier, but after two weeks of living here Anne got color back in her cheeks and was much more active. She also helped with housework and cooking. Laura was very pleased with the girl.
Anne needed clothes, as did Laura. They went shopping in a woman's store that was mostly intact. It has a 'young miss' section also. They spent a few hours picking out clothes. Careful to limit Anne's radiation exposure, Laura got them baskets to carry their new clothes in and explained why to Anne. "Anne, I do not detect large amounts of radiation but to be safe, I'll decontaminate these once we get home. Then we can wash and wear them."
Anne nodded and picked up a basket. "OK, Mom," she said and carried her load out to the carrier.
Laura froze in place, her jaw dropped. Mom. Anne had called her Mom. There was no hesitation or thinking about it. The word just rolled off her tongue naturally, like it was fact. Laura found she was blinking tears. She wiped them away, feeling so very happy.
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John was glad Derek had gotten Sky Net Europe. There were still a massive amount of Sky Net's minions to clean up there, but the head had been cut off the beast, making that task possible. John Henry also explained Sky Net North America's job to go find out the status of the British Islands. The Mayan President wanted experienced warriors so much of General Jacobson's troops were Mayans activity hunting down Sky Net units. Currently, they held most of the northern section of South America. Having Mayan troops also helped the people hiding in the jungles to eagerly join the fight. The Mayan General was now in Jacobson's staff to learn how to be a good general for the freedom and safety of the Mayan people, and their friends who followed John Connor.
Seeing how John Henry's Sky Net met his own goals, John authorized sending ships with an escort to the south coast of England. They could also meet up with Derek's troops and help clear out the harbor at Antwerp where Derek's forces were heading.
TX's and white clad terminators were being pumped out in Los Angeles, the factory complex in Missouri and another factory complex had just started in New Jersey. The operation to investigate England had 5000 human troops, 9000 terminators and 500 Stugs. If the European Sky Net was down, then any terminators in England would only be fighting by themselves. There would be no large scale coordination.
Cameron came up and put an arm around John as he was studying his world map. "John, you can count Spain and France as ours now," she told him.
John winced and said, "Not yet, there is still a huge amount of France we haven't been in, and Spain has that huge million unit Sky Net army wandering around there. I'm only counting the places we know where Sky Net is not."
"That is cautious." Cameron agreed. "Do you remember the vital meeting we have tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?" John asked, eyeing her. He racked his brains, but could not think of any vital meeting he was suppose to attend.
"Daniel and Claire's anniversary party?" Cameron prodded. "We've missed it for the last three years, and I did tell Claire I'd babysit while she and Daniel went down to the Yucatan for a few day's vacation."
John opened his mouth to say he hadn't forgotten. But he did. It had skipped his mind completely. The way Cameron eyed him, she already knew the truth. "Sorry," he offered.
Cameron smirked and kissed his cheek. "That's why I arraigned transportation for Daniel and Claire. Allison will be staying with us until they return."
"Ok," he said weakly. As she told him about it, he did remember talking about it and agreeing to keep Allison while the couple vacationed. Bad John, he shouldn't have forgotten. He wanted to say something to prove he hadn't even thought about their anniversary. "Thanks, Cam, you're a life saver."
"I just talked to John Henry," Cameron said, changing the subject, for which John was thankful. "He has solved the first part of the conception problem. Two volunteer TX's have successfully pro-created. He is watching the fetus development carefully. If all goes well, then I will be able to grow working ovaries and Fallopian tubes."
"That's great!" John said and hugged her. "So then we will be able to have a baby?"
"Not yet. There is still the mystery of egg production and getting human DNA and machine code to mesh successfully with each other, but it is a start," Cameron explained.
"There's a lot to it, huh?" John asked.
"There is, and at the moment, no one knows how much."
Seeing Cameron's face dim, John said, "I'm sure with John Henry working at it, the solution will be found." Casting her a hopeful look, John asked, "Practice with me?"
Seeing his silly face, Cameron grinned at him. "Practice makes perfects," she said and clasped his hand.
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The next day, Sarah came with Daniel and Claire. Allison was going on seven. Becoming old enough to know who Cameron was, Allison didn't recognize her at first when they got on the transport at the air field since she had not seen Cameron in recent years. Allison watched the woman hug her mother and Father as they happily greeted each other and took seats facing each other.
Allison noted things. Cameron had her hair color. She also had her face. Mother introduced Cameron as her older sister.
"Hi," Allison offered.
"Hi Allison, can you stay with us a few days after the party?" Cameron asked, beaming her a smile.
Allison nodded, then asked, "If you're my sister, then why don't you live with us?"
"I'm married to John, so I live with him," Cameron explained.
Allison looked at John, then asked, "John Connor?"
"That's right," Cameron agreed.
Allison looked at John again then said, "He's not ten feet tall."
The adults chuckled. "No, sorry, I'm not," John told her.
Allison looked at Cameron again and asked, "So, my sister is the Tin Miss?"
Cameron glowered at Sarah for a moment, then turned back to Allison. "That's just what Sarah calls me," she explained.
Allison shook her head. "Uh uh, Becky said John Connor is married to the Tin Miss, who is really strong and scares away the bad Sky Net things. You can pick them up and throw them around."
"You're famous, hon," John said with a smirk.
"You are!" Allison said happily. She then looked at Claire and asked, "Mom, why didn't you tell me that my sister was the Tin Miss?"
"Because her name is Cameron," Claire said evenly. "Allison, do not believe all the things you hear."
"My name is Cameron and not Tin Miss," Cameron stated, flicking her eyes at Sarah.
"But Tin Miss makes you sound like you're special," Allison exclaimed.
"Cameron is special in her own way," John offered, "But she is still Cameron."
To change the subject, John asked, "So Mr. and Mrs. Young, ready for a vacation in Cancun?"
"Are we ever!" Daniel said. "Just tell me there's no snow down there and we'll actually get to see sunshine."
"No snow," John confirmed, "But the climate is cooler, around 60 degrees, and there is sun. You do know that area is controlled my the Mayans now?"
"The Mayan Indians?" Claire asked.
"Yes. Mexico no longer has a viable government, but they to in the south of Mexico, due to the Maya. Their President is working with us to stabilize Mexico and Central America. He's even send some of his troops into south America with us to reclaim it and help us look for survivors," John explained. "We are helping each other."
"It's good to know there are other people still around besides us," Daniel said. "Sky Net didn't wipe everyone out."
"Not for lack of trying," John told him. "They did kill billions, just not all of us."
"I take it you have some sort of trade in progress?" Claire asked.
"We do. At the moment it's kind of rough, but we're working on it," John told her.
"The fruit!" Daniel said happily. "it's still warm enough to grow fruit down there, THATs where it's coming from!"
John nodded. "And we're working on a real monetary value system to be sure the trade is fair. we need to implement that anyway."
"What about Guatemala and the rest of those small countries in Central America?" Claire asked.
"The entire Yucatan is now under Mayan rule, as is the rest of southern Mexico, and Central America down to Panama. We're keeping Panama due to the Canal for military usage, though Mayan ships may pass through. Like they are allowing us to freely pass though Mayan territory, we are doing the same. If a Mayan wishes to make his way, say to Florida, they can. What I learned down there is that the Mayas are very proud to be who they are. Eventually, we're going to have to establish a northern border for Mayan territory, but as of yet, there is no firm boundary line. I'm sure eventually, that will have to be determined."
"What about other places?" Daniel asked. "Have you managed to free anyone else?"
"We have taken control back of Hawaii, Wake, and are investigating Australia," John said.
"Columbia, Venezuela, Spain, Portugal and France," Cameron added.
"Those places are not secure yet," John reminded her. "We have gotten survivors out of all those places, but Sky Net troops are still there. We can't count those yet."
"Look! We're going into another mountain," Allison said, pointing to the entrance as they passed in.
"It's Cheyenne Mountain, the inside is pretty big," John told her.
"The secret military complex?" Daniel asked.
"The same," John replied.
"Wow, never thought we'd get to see this!" he beamed.
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Getting out on the second level holding her mother's hand, Allison said, "These caverns are brighter than ours, and prettier."
"They were professionally made," her father told her. "Ours are kinda, parked in place, then build up on the spot by us."
"Cameron made your room," Mom told her proudly.
Allison's room was made of stone. Walls, floor ceiling, everything was stone except for her bed and her dresser. "Thanks Cameron" Allison said with a smile.
"We gave you a two bedroom place," Cameron said and opened the door. Ours is two doors down, this side of the street. The party will be across the street at number 23"
They went in. Although Allison knew they were underground, the inside had wood paneled walls and nice, cushy furniture. Cameron showed them around where all the rooms were.
"For underground, this is nice," Claire told her oldest daughter.
Cameron told her, "It was built for the military elite, but they never got to use it."
"Everything is ready for the dinner party, general," a female voice said behind Allison. She turned as Cameron thanked the dark haired woman. Allison looked at her, then Cameron. "Cameron, you're a General too?"
"I am," Cameron agreed. "Allison, this is Maria. She's a friend of mine."
"Hi Maria," Allison said with a wave.
"Hi Allison," Maria replied, waving back.
It was then Allison noted something on Maria and Cameron. "Why do both of you have three boobies?"
"To help distribute nanite milk better," Maria told her.
"It helps keep people healthy," Cameron added.
"Will I get another boobie when I grow up?" Allison asked.
"No, only we can grow a third breast," Cameron told her.
"That looks funny," Allison said.
"These were grown for function, not appearance," Cameron replied.
Allison frowned a bit, and asked, "But if you made two bigger, wouldn't that be the same thing?"
"They would have to be much, much bigger. I don't want to hit myself in the face when I run," Cameron explained, which made Daniel burst out laughing.
Allison looked over at her father laughing, and saw her mother smack him on the shoulder. He was visualizing too much. Alison giggled, it was funny to her too.
"OK, comedians, we should get settled," her mother announced.
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John showed his mother to her room in the next door down. She was interested in what John was doing, so he took her to the command center. While he was showing her the room, he got the message that there was now a radar station in the Azores and a port was being made. 436 people besides the influx were on the island, and were being cared for. Most of the people from Spain were helping to build the port and making shelters. Derek's forces also encountered terminators coming from the east in Germany.
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Sky Net was getting smart, the commander of the Stug squad noted. sitting on the back side of the hill with only his binocular scope peeking above the summit, Captain Reynolds radioed in with what he found. He gave his position and reported ten terminators spread out. T-800's with tracks on their lower bodies instead of legs. The moment he transmitted, they turned towards him.
Captain Reynolds backed up away from the hill into some dead trees to break up his outline. With the infrared light, he signaled to his other three Stugs : Sky Net terminators coming. Ten, on tracks not legs. The Stugs moved away found themselves low spots and waited for the terminators to appear over the hill. The TX's on top got off and hunkered down in the snow, plasma canons out.
A single T-800 made the summit of the hill and stopped. After a long pause, the others climbed the hill in a line. They all rolled down at the same time.
"Fire!" Captain Reynolds commanded.
The T-800's didn't even have a chance to shoot back. Plasma fire from 4 Stugs and 20 TX's melted them down. Captain Reynolds had his Stug drive back up to his original position.
The flat before the next hill was covered with terminators and H/K tanks. A swarm of H/K's were coming low, blowing up snow in a cloud.
"Shit, we're a little out numbered, retreat," he announced.
With the TX's back up on the Stugs, Captain Reynolds reported in on the radio what he found.
"Incoming!" A TX's announced. The TX's shot at the missiles headed directly for them.
"Evade!" Captain Reynolds barked.
The TX's got a few, but many were coming in. As the missiles closed, the TX's jumped off. At first, Reynolds was angry, then he realized TX's could not be captured by Sky Net. That was his last thought as a missile penetrate the top of his Stug and blew up inside, Blasting the Stug apart.
In the missile salvo, three of the four Stugs were destroyed. H.K's came to hover over the burning machines and got a rain of plasma fire from the TX's. Several H/K's fell to the ground. The rest backed away, a few moving back and forth to kick up clouds of snow. While they were obscuring themselves, the TX's ran down the Stug tracks. High above, an H/K watched them flee, staying well out of plasma range.
The line of Sky Net's forces moved on.
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Derek was getting in reports and keeping track of where his scouts were encountering this new mass of Sky Net units. He was also learning how. The northern General was Marisa. she was setting up a defend / then fall back strategy. Twice, she used her artillery to try and cause chaos in the main Sky Net line. Using concentrated fire, her guns cleared a square mile area of Sky Net troops. She sent Stugs rushing into the gap to get behind the Sky Net line only to find more Sky Net forces further back. There forces didn't just charge ahead either. When the Studs ran in, beside failing to get behind Sky Net forces, they were attacked from both sides. Of the 200 Stugs that went into the fight, only 87 managed to get out with the help from another attack from the front. Yes, they did destroy more Sky Net forces. H/K's and H/K tank kills were verified at 463 at least. Still, Sky Net had many more extra forces. Marisa didn't. Once again, she had her forces pull back and set up the traps and ambushes she was able to.
Derek sent a long line of Stugs and M'1's into the Ardenne Forest, hoping to come at Sky Net from behind. Sky Net had the same idea and another huge battle erupted. The result was the same. In this case, Tina's command did stop thousands of terminators and H/K tanks. She also lost 3200 terminators and another 160 Stugs and all 12 M1's she had in the battle. They blasted everything in front of them and a whole new mass of units appeared. The intensity of the battle set fire to the previously frozen trees, causing many to explode from temperature difference. Like Marisa's battle, H/K's ruled the sky, Derek's forces had no air cover but did lay waste to the Sky Net troops advancing. In this case, it was the massive amounts of wrecks that stopped the battle, neither side could climb over the piled up ruins.
Derek even had snow forts set up in Belgium to confuse the advancing Sky Net forces. It didn't work, Sky Net ignored them after a few plasma shots. He had bridges and river ice blown up to stop them. That didn't work either. H/K's flew pre-made bridges in. Marisa's forces downed many H/K's but more came to fight her as others laid the bridges in place. Even the radio tower Derek used to transmit to Connor was taken out by a few H/K's that sped behind the lines. They were shot down, but not after they downed the tower.
This was deeply concerning. Not only the number of units Sky Net had, but also the better tactics they were using. There had to be an active Sky Net driving them. Derek also found out they were running out of missiles. From what Derek was seeing, Sky was bringing another huge army, and this time, he had no way to avoid or go around them. Derek was losing numbers fast. Their line was thinning out. The only option he could see was the Chunnel in Calais. Run down the Chunnel to England and blow it behind them. Seeing how Tina's forces were blocked in front, he sent her fast units to Calais to be sure the Chunnel was still intact.
In the mean time, Derek had his forces continue to defend then retreat. Another radio tower was made far from then front lines so Derek could let John know what was happening. He also activated the digital radio jammers they had left.
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At Geel, just east of Antwerp, Marisa hid in a frozen swamp with humans, TX's, Terminators and their stugs. Down in the snow and covered with dead swamp brush, she watched as Sky Net troops passed by, searching for something ahead of them to shoot. Listening to the digital comms, Marisa noted when the jamming signal began. She stood up and gave her red eye flashes in code to attack.
This time, when her forces hit the side of the Sky Net units, they all didn't immediately turn towards her. The were slow enough that the Stugs running through mowed over terminators to shoot H/K tanks from behind. The initial mass of plasma fire into the Sky Net troops was not answered. Marisa's troops drove through Sky Net units from back to front then ran back behind the Sky Net line to do it again. Some terminators did turn around and were quickly cut down. By the time Sky Net units reacted and tried to close the now four mile long gap, Marisa swung her troops far behind and found an H/K base. The 20 H/K's sitting on the ground were plasma'd heavily, only three managed to lift off before they were blown up. heading down a river, Marisa had her troops take bridges out as they went. Sky Net had foolishly brought transports of machine parts behind their army. These were destroyed also. Early the next morning, Marisa's troops again drove though the Sky Net line back to front. During this fight, there was no time to collect disabled terminators or chips. Marisa gave the order to fry every chip so Sky Net would not get them back.
Once Marisa's force fled back to their own lines, she was ordered to begin sending her forces to the Chunnel and over to England.
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Sky Net Asia was surprised at the ferocity of the human defense in Europe. Following history, an attack across the low lands, then a charge though the mountain forest should have broken the human line. The battle in the lowlands was gaining slow ground with the loss of many units. The humans counter attacked through the mountains, which Sky Net hadn't been expecting, and stopped it's forces from advancing. The carnage there was massive, over half it's forces were destroyed, many on top of each other. The 5000 H/K force it had was down to 1500. An advance through the forest was no longer possible. It then lost communications. Communications came back, and Sky Net discovered what had happened in the mean time.
It's lowland force was missing entire areas of units. an H/K assembly area had been destroyed, and machinery to begin a new factory was also missing, as were bridges it was using to cross rivers. Humans were not just in front of it, they had somehow gotten behind it also. Sky Net called a halt to the advance. It had to route out these destructive humans before it went any further.
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Derek kept close tabs on where his army was and what it was doing. They had taken some big hits, they had given some as well. Derek's forces had to pull back but they weren't broken. Laura was in the service tunnel of the Chunnel, the smaller, center one. Anne was with her in the carrier, and gripping Laura's hand tightly. Although Anne had to be scared, she didn't shake or cry. She just sat by Laura.
Word came through the other end of the tunnel was clear. Derek began collapsing his army through the tunnel. The forward scouts reported Sky Net units had stopped. Derek was glad to hear it, but he was thinking the stop was just to reorganize before pushing on. They had left some big dents in the Sky Net lines. Once Derek was confident his army was going to get through the tunnels unmolested, he reviewed his last orders. last out would be the scouts, then the engineers were going to blow the Chunnel so Sky Net couldn't follow them. Derek then went to the service tunnel and got in the carrier with Laura and Anne.
Watching Derek come in and sit down on the other side of Laura, Anne asked, "Dad, we're getting away from the bad monsters?"
Derek cast her a brief smile. 'Yeah, hon, we're getting away from the bad monsters."
To prevent an accident and a pileup, the speed limit was 40 miles an hour. The trip through the Chunnel was smooth. once everyone was at the other end, Derek ordered the Chunnel blown. It was a shame to destroy one end of the engineering marvel, but he could not have Sky Net following him. On this side in England, scouts were not reporting many Sky Net Units. Finding a few men in a basement, It was learned that the terminators had disappeared around five months ago. Derek equated this to the time of the buildup outside the Pyrenees mountains. Sky Net had drawn all it's units from Europe to attack Spain.
As soon as the radio tower was set up, Derek send a message to John to let him know what was happening. They were in England, and very low on ammunition and supplies. After an hour wait, a reply came back. 'Supplies and reinforcements on the way. Find the Sky Net segment.'
For the moment, that was all Derek could reasonably do. He had units headed for Plymouth England, there was a good port there and they had a decent chance of keeping sky Net away from it. In Dover, he had the first radio direction finder set up. He sent another group out to the east coast to set up another one.
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Allison was liking spending time with Cameron. In the mornings, Cameron served a yummy breakfast. Allison got to help her sister, the famous Tin Miss, in setting the table. Allison had done this with mom, but it was exciting to to it with someone famous.
Allison was having a good time doing just about everything with Cameron. Cameron made a Chinese checkers board, which was fun to watch, then used steel bearings for the balls and showed Allison how to play. Allison even got to help put the 'jump' lines on the board. Sticking her tongue out for concentration, Allison carefully painted the lines on, copying what her big sister did. It took them a while, but the board was finished. Rechecking the lines, Allison announced, "We did it!"
Cameron thrust her arms in the and and cried, "Yay!"
"Yay!" Allison cried, copying the motion and beaming Cameron a big smile. "Can we play now!"
"Yes, I'll show you how," Cameron told her.
Allison put the plastic balls on one side like Cameron was putting the steel balls on the other. This was fun!
Cameron explained the strategy of the game and let Allison win a couple times. She had agreed to keep Allison for a few days so Daniel and Claire were able to go on a real vacation. She found she was having fun with Allison.
It also made her want her own child even more.
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John wasn't having so much fun. He got the message of Derek's retreat into England. The losses were staggering, and unrecoverable. Half off Derek's army was gone. The reinforcements would not begin to replace what's they'd lost. From what Derek knew, they had inflicted huge losses on this Sky Net army. The numbers John did have indicated Derek's army took out at least twice the forces Derek had lost, but Sky Net could recover those. The only good thing was that if Sky Net had massed it's forces from farther east, then maybe they could find this segment and take it out without too many losses.
Spending time looking at maps and working out the most effective attack, John also got another message. Their ground attack planes had been upgraded. Experimenting with the prop drives, a new propeller and turbo-boost gave the planes another 50 MPH. They top speed now was 405 MPH and they also got a ceiling of 42,000 feet. Missile range was also increased to 20 miles. They were now able to shoot at land targets long before they were seen. All the new planes were to be back fitted with the new abilities.
John also recalled Derek and his commanders so they could plan their actions in person. He sent F-14's to go get them. He wanted to strike before Sky Net tried to cross the Channel. While John waited for them, the talked to John Henry about the Sky Nets he knew about, and to Catherine Weaver on what they were finding in Australia.
"Australia is ripe for invasion, John," Catherine said in the monitor over their secure digital link. "No Sky Net segment has been found, only wandering machines. Some humans have been found living in underground facilities. They want to get rid if Sky Net. I believe we should move while we have the chance. From what John Henry is finding, Sky Net's attention is on Europe."
John nodded slowly, then asked, "Think it may be a trap to get humans to come out? Possibly Sky Net is in Australasia and is waiting for humans to move against it?"
"I don't think so, John," Catherine replied. "Our forces there have had two minor battles. H/K's did make transmissions before they were destroyed. If Sky Net was active, it would have responded. John Henry has heard nothing."
"What kind of forces are we talking about?" John asked. "We already have two big operations going, and we're getting stretched thin."
"Mostly, weapons support for the humans in Australia," Catherine said. "The 50 TX's there can be their advisors. We let them take back their continent unless they prove they cannot. By then, at least one of our operations will be complete."
"We hope," John replied. "The South American operation is going fairly well but the European operation is getting dicey. Derek is stating lack of air cover and being out numbered as his biggest problems. Sky Net Spain and the one in France is gone, but there is at least one other. Besides Derek's searching, the Sea Wolf is in the Med, looking for Sky Net signal locations. If they find one, they are to Tomahawk the hell out of it."
"Let's hope they find it," Catherine agreed. "I've noticed Sky Net is not paying much attention to islands. Now, about Australia?"
John knew they had to strike wherever they could and get as many survivors together as possible. "I have to agree, weapons and strategic support to begin with. We still have 3000 M1's finishing up modifications. Stugs, we need in Europe. I'd say maybe give them a few hundred. Of course all the plasma rifles and 20 MM guns we can. We also have a bunch of 150 MM artillery we're not using down south. I'll start sending supplies west. Do they need anti-aircraft missiles?"
"So far, no. The H/K's seem to be either destroyed or gone. Apparently, the Australian government troops fought back hard. I was thinking also factory plans and building assistance," Catherine said.
"If you can, do it."
"Will do John." Catherine said and cut the connection.
Cameron then walked in with Allison, holding her hand. "John, it's getting late. Family time."
"Yeah, John, Cameron made a new game with me!" Allison said brightly. "Come play it with us."
"It's a good game?" John asked.
Allison bobbed her head. "It is. It's not easy, it makes you think, but it is fun."
John got up and called, "Maria, I'm going to my quarters. If anything critical comes up, come get me."
"Yes, General," Maria replied. Instead of just guarding him and Cameron, He and Cameron convinced Maria she would serve a better purpose being the coordinator for his staff and take messages for him in the command center.
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The next day, John got good news. On the east coast of South America, General Jacobson had broken the last solid defense of Sky Net in Macapa, Brazil, next to the Amazon river. On the west coast, his troops and locals from the Jungle were all but flying through Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Although the natives were not doing much fighting, they were pointing out where Sky Net troops were, and knowing the lay of the land, they were able to guide the Stugs around Sky Net units to come at them from all sides. The Sky Net segment had changed places twice, from mid-Brazil to lower Brazil, and now into Argentina. From what spotter planes reported, Sky Net units were gathering near Buenos Aires where Sky Net there was last detected. From what General Jacobson hinted at, the lack of H/K tanks and H/K's was due to Sky Net not thinking they would meet any serious resistance in South America. The only factory found so far was a small terminator factory up in Venezuela, and that now belonged to him.
With any luck, soon Sky Net would be driven from South America.
Getting word that Derek and his commanders were soon to arrive, John got out the European maps. Although Cameron was having a good time with Allison, he wanted her here for this meeting. First, John got a babysitter, then went to his quarters and found Cameron showing Allison how to do simple math.
Seeing John come in, Allison held up her paper. "John! Look what Cameron showed me. I can carry!"
"All right!" John announced. "Allison, I need to borrow Cameron for a while. When she's busy, would you like a tour of the gardens? There a lot of near things down there."
"That sounds like a good idea," Cameron said. "You like flowers, don't you Allison?"
"I do" Allison agreed heartily.
John motioned to the woman who came in with him. "This is Lt. Baker. She will show you the gardens."
Cameron knew John would not interrupt her time with Allison unless it was important. She encouraged Allison to go. Eager to see pretty flowers Allison was soon on her way with Lt. Baker. Going back to the Command Center, John explained to Cameron why she was needed.
"We have a problem in Europe. Sky Net brought in another huge army and drove Derek back to England. I have an idea how to handle it, but I need every opinion I can get so I can make the best choice on what to do about it."
"I understand," Cameron replied.
They went in and John gave Cameron the overview of Derek's situation, and the reinforcements that were heading his way. He also got the message that a partially built Nuclear sub up in Groton, Connecticut had been finished and was going through sea trials.
Not long after John got that message, Derek and his commanders, Tina and Marisa, arrived.
"General John!" Marisa swooned and ran into him, giving him a firm hug. He returned the hug and also admonished her while Cameron cast her a death glare. Yes, John noticed Cameron's displeasure. "Marisa, we have to be professional," he said firmly.
Smiling broadly, Marisa released him and snapped him a salute. "Yes, sorry General, I couldn't help myself."
John then shook hands with Derek and Tina. "Give me your situation," he told Derek.
Derek, pointed out where his troops were. "We have troops in Portishead, here by Bristol, it's the closest safe port for incoming ships, all the way to Margate, here on the east coast. Pretty much the whole south of England is Sky Net free. I'm not counting on anything yet, the channel is shallow enough terminators can just walk across it. I'm not going to sugar coat it, John. We're still badly outnumbered and we need those supplies. We have a radio listening post in Dover, and we have a direction, but we need another set up so we can triangulate a distance to Sky Net. So far, it's looking like it's in Germany."
"Germany, huh?" John asked in a musing tone. "What about another post up here in Denmark? We send a sub, set it up and listen. If we're talking Germany, that should give us a good triangulation."
"Next question how to deal with it? If it's inland, then that will be a long way to travel," Derek said. "Sky Net will know we're coming and may move before we get there."
"A whole army is out of the question," Cameron said. "So an air raid might be also. Sky Net will see that coming as well."
"Sky Net tends to mass on the threat," Marisa said. "If we fake an attack along the French coast. Put enough forces there to get their attention, we can use that as a diversion for a small force of fast troops."
Derek eyed her and asked, "So who gets set up for slaughter?"
"No one," Marisa said. "The diversion force attacks enough to get Sky Net's attention, then retreats back to England."
"The attack force headed for Sky Net should be as small as possible," Tina said. "They move and hide, take plenty of explosives with them. They will have to sneak in, plant the explosives, then get out before they go off."
"That is possible with very well trained troops," Cameron agreed. "Sending terminators to walk across the bottom of the North sea, and Sky Net will not know they are coming."
"Depending upon where Sky Net is, that may work. Say, a group of 50," John said in thought.
"That is an idea," Derek agreed. "They could even use rivers to get closer before possibly exposing themselves. Use subs to get them close, say drop them off 10 miles out."
"If they don't get Sky Net, they will be in big trouble," John warned.
"It will have to be white T-800's," Tina said, "And they can't attack anything along the way. T-800's won't be suspected unless they fire on other Sky Net units."
"And who's going to lead this force?" John asked.
"I will," Tina stated. "We must destroy that Sky Net segment if we have a hope of dealing with that large army."
"That is true," Derek relented.
John told Tina, "If you're seen, that will blow the operation."
"I'll strip my skin off. Then I'll just be another terminator."
"You's do that?" Derek asked, shocked at her offer.
Tina noted Derek glance at her chest. With a smirk she said, "You can keep it for me for when I return. Just make sure it stays in a nutrient bath."
"Tina, once all your flesh is gone, it will be very difficult to get back," Cameron told her. "Even if your flesh is preserved, it may not reattach."
"If it will help defeat Sky Net, then it has to be done," Tina stated.
"That's very brave of you," Derek told her.
"It is," John said firmly. "Still, don't do that unless you have no other choice." He handed Derek the list of reinforcements and supplies. "Here's what you'll be getting in the next week. I can also get you two carriers of fighter planes for your diversionary attack, and shore bombardment. You're going to need code words you can use over the air to coordinate this operation. Let's get those worked out."
Cameron was pleased they had a way to move forward. She wasn't pleased at how close Marisa insisted on standing next to John on his other side. She wanted to get Marisa back to England as fast as possible.