CH 17 Allison goes to war
General Gates agreed to see the young, feisty Colonel Augustine Basurto of Ortega's army. He wasn't looking forward to it, the Nicaraguans were being attacked by Sky Net, and he had nothing else to throw at them. The H/K's that raided them the other day destroyed the last aircraft he had, and got the fuel dump, as well as killed many of the badly needed forces he had left. He was sure Ortega wanted him to support them, and he had nothing left. He doubted they would believe that.
His aide knocked in his office door. "General, Colonel Basurto is here, Sir."
Gates stiffened himself and said, "Show him in."
The young man who strode in was in his twenties. His uniform was as sharp as his stride radiated confidence and determination. He strode up to General Gates' desk, came to attention and saluted. In English with a Spanish accent, he said, "General, I do not have time for pleasantries. I must insist you surrender your base and allow us to take your equipment for use against the attackers."
Put off by the man's directness, Gates eyed him. "Look, Colonel. I know you're in a tough spot. Hell, we are too. I don't have any helicopters left. Even if I did, I have no fuel to fly them. If we had anything to use against Sky Net, believe me, I'd have it off the base and into the fight. The fact of the matter is, I don't."
"Sir," Colonel Basurto said crispy. "I did not ask for assistance. I demanded your surrender. I have dealt with Americans before and found them less than trustworthy. My people are being slaughtered, Sir! This is not a time where I will allow any weapons to be secreted away for your own protection. I strongly ask you submit and avoid any bloodshed."
"Are you crazy?" Gates asked as he stood to face the man. "Colonel, do you realize you are committing an act of war against the United States?"
"General, I have full authorization do to whatever I must do to protect our people! They are my one and only concern. If you are truly a man of morals, then you will surrender peacefully. War with the United States means nothing to me if we have already been wiped out."
General Gates was about to reply when a strong blast of wind blew in through the window, scattering papers as a jet engine sounded outside. His words turned into a "'What the hell!"
Shielding their faces against the jet blast coming in the window, Gates watched a Harrier jet drift down and land right outside the building.
"Who is that idiot!" Gates roared. He marched out of his office with Colonel Basurto right behind him.
The pilot shut down and opened his canopy as Gates and a few MP's surrounded the plane. Getting out, the pilot reached in and pulled a suitcase sized box out of his cockpit and climbed down. Seeing the men standing around, he called, "General Gates?"
"Who are you and tell me why you should NOT be thrown in the brig right now!" Gates roared.
The pilot saluted him. "Sir, I see a representative from the Nicaraguan army is here. Good, he needs to see this too. I have orders and instructions from General Conner. "
Frustrated and angered by the recent events, General Gates snapped, "In my office, now!"
"General, I need your answer," Colonel Basurto insisted.
"Sir?" the pilot asked the Colonel, "With all due respect Sir, you need to see this."
Going back inside, the pilot set the case on top of the General's desk and opened it to show the top was a monitor screen. He pulled up an antenna then handed an envelope to Colonel Basurto. "Sir, this is the latest satellite and intel report on all Sky Net activity we have discovered in and around your country. There are supplies coming, weapons and ammunition that will be more effective than what you are currently using. General Connor requests you send as many men as you can to this base to be trained on it's use. Time is critical Sir."
"Pilot, you can't just hand over vital information to a foreign power," General Gates stated.
"General Connor's orders, sir. To quote him, 'I don't give a damn about politics when the survival of the human race is at stake.' General Connor is waiting to speak to you and a high ranking member of the Nicaraguan military as soon as possible. This transceiver is the only secure communications we have that Sky Net cannot break the code on."
"Who is this General Connor?" Colonel Basurto asked.
"So far, the only commander who has been able to defeat Sky Net every time it has attacked him," the pilot stated. "I would recommend you listen to him, Sir."
Colonel Basurto did not walk out and order an attack on this base because of one statement. This Connor was out to save people, no matter who they were. He had also brought intel the Americans would never normally give up freely. "Very well, get General Conner on."
.
John was working at his desk, writing out orders when his door opened and his secretary poked her head in.
"General, we have General Gates on the secure line."
"Thank you," he replied and opened up his link to the transceiver he'd had sent to that base. The monitor showed General Gates and another man in a Nicaraguan officer's uniform. "General Gates, I am General Connor. You still hold the base?"
"We do, but we are having difficulties. Besides your reckless pilot dropping down on top of me, Colonel Basurto here has demanded our surrender."
"Why is that, Colonel?" John asked.
Colonel Basurto restated his distrust and insistence the base was holding weapons back from him. John listened and nodded. "I understand. Colonel, would you consider it acceptable if I handed control of that base over to the Nicaraguan army?"
"That is out of the question!" Gates roared. "I don't know who you are, but I refuse to hand over US military equipment, let alone personnel to anyone!"
"General Gates, who is your second in command?" John asked.
"The surviving second in command is now Major Lambert."
"Go get him, you are relieved of command, General," John stated heavily.
"You can't do that!"
"I just did," John snapped back. "Colonel, if General Gates will not relinquish command, then put him in the stockade and inform Major Lambert he is the new base commander. I want to speak to him right away so we can make things clear and get started bringing you weapons."
"Yes, General Connor," Colonel Basurto said firmly.
"Call me back the moment you are ready for a staff meeting. Every moment we delay, Sky Net is killing people. Time is of the essence," John stated. He then dimmed the monitor and and went back to work while he waited.
.
Cameron took a close look at what was needed for the Central American operation. Air cover was going to be the big item, as long as H/K's ruled the skies, Sky Net was getting a stronger and stronger foothold in those countries. An A-747 had severely crippled the Chinese aircraft carrier that had brought the H/K's over, but with that ship now beached, she was sure it was being consumed to make fighting vehicles, it wasn't going back for any more.
The latest drones were piloted from the A-747's or a school bus sized land vehicle, or humvee sized vehicles for a single drone pilot. Sending troops and equipment by ship was asking for a Sky Net sub or Kraken to sink them. Everything would have to be flown in. They had 12 serviceable cargo planes, 5 C-141's, a pair of old C-130's, 4 C-5's and a C-17. The C-130's were much slower propeller driven craft, so that meant only 10 cargo planes were available for the trip.
Seeing how the drone pilots could fly the drones there as escorts, that meant all the ground weapons an ammo had to be packed In a tight of space as possible. Mini-stugs were the best compact vehicle, with the most tightly packed ammunition. Doing the figures she concluded they could send 20 mini-stugs for dual human operators, six truck based lasers and enough TOW missiles and ammunition to keep the fight going on the ground. She also figured a pair of A-747's would be needed. Cameron issued the orders to get everything together.
Walking into John's office, Cameron gave him the list and said, "This is all we can send. From the numbers of Sky Net machines, as long as we can remove the H/K's from the skies quickly, the battle should draw down with attrition and stop Sky Net's advance."
John winced. "I don't want it the advance stopped, we have to eliminate it completely."
"Then Allison and I must go," Cameron stated.
John gapped at her. "Why you?"
"I can operate the mini Stugs and drones more efficiently. Allison has the ability to take on many Sky Net units as well," Cameron explained. "I don't like the idea, but you are correct John, we need to eliminate the Sky Net forces completely. The amount of material we can send will not do that. If we send substantially more, then we will be vulnerable here."
John stared at her. "But, Cam, to send Allison..." he said weakly.
"That is the fastest way to remove the threat. We both know this is not the only attack Sky Net has planned," Cameron stated.
John let out a huff. "I'm sure you're right. Still, to send our little girl into a fight seems wrong."
"Allison can handle anything Sky Net has. She is the only one who can. John, this is not my first choice, it is the most logical one." Softer, Cameron said, "John, you know I will keep a close eye on her."
The transceiver beeped. John eyed it and motioned Cameron over to bring a chair over to his side. "If Allison wants to go, then we'll do it. If she doesn't, we're not going to force her. The Nicaraguan base is on line, come over here so they can see you."
.
John opened the line up. On his monitor, Colonel Basurto was there with an American Major John figured was Lambert, and another Nicaraguan officer. To get this meeting started off right, John introduced himself and got to the heart of the matter.
"Gentlemen, I am General John Connor, currently in charge of all west coast American forces. We have a problem here that concerns us all. This enemy we face, Sky Net, does not want to rule anyone, it wants to eradicate humanity. It can and will kill every person on the face of the Earth if it is not stopped. If we work together, we can stop Sky Net, but it will not happen if we don't put aside any differences we have and fight side by side. Colonel Basurto, may I ask your area of responsibility?"
"I hold the responsibility of the defense of Managua, General, but I can speak for General Ortega. The General feels all forces in our country must be united under one command," Basurto stated.
"As do I," John agreed. "Colonel, with me here is my wife, General Cameron Connor. She will be coming to join your forces with the intent to remove Sky Net from the air and prevent any reinforcement of them. She will be bringing equipment with her that will need operators, and other equipment she will be operating herself. She will need free rein to attack Sky Net when and how she sees fit. Is that agreeable to you?"
Colonel Basurto paused for a moment, then nodded. "It is, Sir, as long as she will obey commands to give specific support where we need it."
"Colonel," Cameron said, "I have had much experience fighting Sky Net. I will go by your orders when they are the best course of action. If you give an order that either makes no tactical sense, or may endanger our forces or your own, or possibly be dangerous to civilians, do not expect it to be followed."
Colonel Basurto smiled and let a chuckle escape his lips. "If I give such an order, you are welcome to inform me of my mistake. When is this help arriving, General?"
"The planes are being prepared now," Cameron said. "I recommend not using a military airport, Sky Net will be watching for you forces to be receiving help. What I saw of the battle lines this morning, I expect Sky Net to be in the outskirts of Managua no later than two days, the earliest tomorrow afternoon. An air attack force to take control of the air will be there by noon tomorrow. The transports will arrive very soon after. You need to keep the civilian air field in the south of the city open and prepare for the dropping off of equipment and supplies."
"One thing, Colonel," John added. "The ground equipment we are sending will be yours, Sky Net is not going away. Once we defeat Sky Net there, all our personnel return here except for a few to maintain contact and assist in training. In return for this I will be calling for your help should Sky Net attack any other Central American country. We, all of humanity, must be in this fight together."
Colonel Basurto nodded slowly. "How many men should we have ready for this new equipment you are sending?"
"Five thousand," Cameron stated. "That includes operators, mechanics, clerical and support troops. one hundred will be remote vehicle operators, I would suggest younger men who are good at video games. These are remotely operated machines."
Colonel Basurto raised an eyebrow. "So few? We have lost four times that many men, and the best we've done is stall this Sky Net's advance."
John cracked a grin and said, "You're going to like our new toys. We've got the latest and greatest, these are not second hand. Let me show you some photos and specs."
John send a picture of each machine as he explained.
"The mini-Stug, seventy kilometers an hour top speed, main gun is a 130 MM rail gun capable of a fifty mile range with a full charge of the magnetically driven gun. This shell will obliterate whatever it hits, and most likely, whatever is behind the target also. Secondary arms is a sixty caliber rail assisted machine gun, alternating armor piercing and phosphorous rounds, the armored dome is effectively 90 MM thick, it takes two human remote operators or if platooned up, one AI to operate."
"The attack drone, short takeoff, max sped 1200 KPH, best maneuverability of any aircraft, it has one main laser with a range of one hundred fifty kilometers, and can carry six missiles of various types, including our semi-intelligent missiles that seeks and homes in on targets as well as actively avoids counter fire and ignores countermeasures. It takes one human operator per unit, or one AI per squadron to operate."
"The truck mounted rail gun, 130 MM, the same gun that is on the mini-Stugs but with a range of two hundred kilometers with coordinated precise ranging. Capable of firing one round per second. It is local or remotely operated"
"The semi-intelligent missile, range five hundred kilometers. Give it a picture of what you want destroyed, point it in the general direction and let it go. It will find it's target. This baby is great for over the horizon shots at approaching H/K's."
"The Humvee mounted rail assisted machine gun. Sixty caliber, 340 rounds per minute, it will punch through three inches, or 75MM, of steel plate and chew any concrete structure down to nothing."
John took the last picture down and asked, "So, Colonel, do you think you might be able to use these weapons?"
Colonel Basurto asked, "These things are real?"
"And on their way to you, so long you are willing to work with us in an alliance," John said firmly.
"As long as you are fighting to protect the people, we are with you," Colonel Basurto stated.
.
After dinner, the question her Dad asked Allison was a no-brainer. They were fairly secure here, and her mother was going to go battle Sky Net. "Sure I'll go! I don't want Mommy down there in danger all by herself," Allison stated.
"You might not be back in time for your birthday," Cameron cautioned her daughter.
"That's OK, this is more important," Allison said.
"Hey Ally?" Byron asked hesitantly. "I know you're real good at whacking Sky Net things, but it's a war going on down there. I don't want you getting hurt."
Allison shrugged and said, "I'll be OK. Someone has to watch out for Mommy." She the perked up as if remembering something, "Oh yeah, I have my assignments to do, and give my theory about the battle of Kursk. Mommy, when are we leaving?"
"We are leaving tomorrow night late to be there first thing Friday morning."
Allison got up and said, "I have to go get my work done. Byron, could you give my Kursk theory to the class for me?"
"Sure Ally."
"Thank you. I better go get my schoolwork done. Night everyone," Allison said, then made the rounds, giving a hug and kiss to Sarah, John, Cameron, then without thinking about it, Byron. Byron blushed red with a grin on his face as Allison went to her room.
.
The next day at school, Allison turned in her first assignments and told Gloria where she was going.
Gloria's eyes widened. "Allison, you're going off to war?" she asked with a shocked expression.
"Only for a little while," Allison said meekly. "Mommy said she expects us to be gone about two or three weeks. A month, tops."
"But, you're just a child!" Gloria cried.
"I know. I'm the only one who can help Mommy," Allison replied. "If I don't go, then a lot more people are going to die and Mommy might get hurt too! I know I'll be missing some school, but I'll make it up, and Byron said he'll give my Kursk talk on Friday for me."
"While you are in the jungles of Central America, fighting Sky Net," Gloria stated, staring at her.
Allison nodded. With a frown she said, "I'd take school work with me, but I don't really think I'll have much time to do it."
"When are you leaving?"
"Later today. I wish I could finish the week, but Mommy says we have to get down there as soon as we can," Allison explained.
Gloria shook her head sadly. She the got up and went around the desk to hug Allison. "You be careful, dear. We all want you to come back to us."
Hearing them, Becky also got up and went to the front to hug Allison. To Gloria, she said, "If anyone can figure out how to beat Sky Net down there, it's Allison! You go give them hell, girl!" she announced.
"Becky!" Gloria admonished.
Becky cast her a crooked grin and said "Well Dan isn't here to be crude, so someone has to do it."
.
The class didn't get a lot of work done before lunch, attention was shifted to Allison and the fact she was leaving to go fight those machines. Allison did get everyone to agree not to tell anyone else, because her parents said it had to remain a secret anyone was going at all. Everyone insisted they help Allison 'be sure' she was ready to go, so after lunch, they all went out on the football field. Allison was mid field, Byron and Becky stood at one end, Jerome, Trudy and Arnie stood at other end. They threw small rocks in the air, Allison in the middle had to keep watch and hit the rocks. It was good mind Hand practice, Allison had to be sharp and pay attention to both sides at once. Not matter how fast they threw rocks in the air, Allison hit each one, blasting it into dust.
After the mind Hand target practice, Byron had Allison race around the cross-country course, Becky kept the time. The first time Allison flew around the mile and a half course, using trees and other objects to help propel herself around only touching the ground now and then, she took just over one minute. The second time around, she only took 35 seconds. Taking a rest and pumping herself up try her best, Allison raced around a third time to come in 26 seconds after she left.
"Yay, Allison!" Byron and Becky cried as they looked at the stop watch. Gloria and the rest of the class clapped at her accomplishment. Arnie looked stunned.
Allison blushed and pointed back at the course. "I think I knocked a tree down my last time around. We better not do any more."
.
With the class satisfied Allison was ready to take on Sky Net, Gloria dismissed Allison and Byron early so Byron could take Allison down to buy her bug repellent, sun glasses, a wide brimmed hat to keep the sun off her, and mosquito netting to be sure she didn't get bitten.
Knowing she wouldn't see Byron for a while, Allison didn't mind shopping and walking home with him. He carried her bags and opened doors for her. She thought it was sweet. Due to the lack of imports, prices were higher in stores for the items they did have. All the things made in China , Taiwan and other far eastern Countries (which was most of what was sold) were becoming scarce. Allison knew her Father was working hard to get things produced here again, but nothing was reaching the shelves yet. Byron did find bug repellent, and a wide brimmed hat, but no sunglasses or any netting to use to keep the mosquitoes off her.
On the walk back home, Byron made a point of holding Allison's hand. Sheepishly, he said, "Sorry I couldn't get everything for you, Ally."
"It's all right, you tried your best. The stores just done have much," Allison replied.
They walked along a bit farther. Byron cleared his throat and said, "Hey, Ally? You scared to go?"
"No, I just don't like being away," she mussed.
"I'm scared something will happen and you won't come back," he admitted.
"I'll come back," Allison assured him.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
.
That night, Byron hung by Allison, helping her get packed. Allison didn't really care for the green camo shirt and pants Gramma Sarah put her in, nor the combat boots, but she knew this was what soldiers wore. Byron and Allison drove their beat up car with no engine to the airfield with John, Cameron and Sarah in the back seat. With no headlights, Sarah shown a flashlight out the front so Byron could see where he was going. Parking by the large quonset hut that hid the entrance to the underground entrance to the tunnels, They all got out. John led them to the briefing station where the latest developments in Nicaragua were being shown on a large map. The Captain there explained the situation to John and Cameron.
"In the southern area, here at the Nicaraguan,Costa Rica border, LaCruz, Upala, and Los Chiles in Costa Rica have all be overrun, in Nicaragua, Rivas, Jinotepe, Granada and Masaya have all been taken over. The populations in all these places have been wiped out, or driven west in the south, or up towards Managua in the north. To the North, Chinandega in Nicaragua, and Choluteca in Honduras have been gassed and bombed heavily, and Sky Net has forces in both cities, and in a large semi-circle in this whole coastal area. In both places, Sky Net is not moving fast, but it appears it is making sure the areas are devoid of humans before they move on. Honduran forces have pulled back, concerning themselves with getting people out of the area. Costa Rica has no forces left, and Nicaragua have the bulk of their forces near Managua desperately trying to hold back Sky Net. If Sky Net makes it south past Leon, they will be trapped between lago de Nicaragua, this huge lake, and the coast. They will be completely wiped out."
"So if Managua falls, there will be no more resistance against Sky Net, in the entire area" John concluded.
"Nothing substantial, no."
John Looked at Cameron. "First priority is to clear the skies and get as may people out to the north east around Lake Nicaragua, or across it as fast as possible. Once Sly Net finds out we're there, I'm sure they will pick up the pace and close the trap."
Cameron studied the map and pointed to the river connecting the two parts of Lake Nicaragua. "Here. I am sure Sky Net has already guarded this route against escape. We'll need to open it up and keep it open. Up here on this peninsula sticking out into the lake is another viable escape route by boat if we can get rid of the H/K's. Around the north end of the lake is too dangerous, Sky Net will be expecting it, and have ground units waiting."
"Do what you think is best," John told her.
"Are the planes ready to go?" Cameron asked.
"One hour," an air force Major said. "Ten transports, two A-747's, thirty long range drones, twenty V-22 Osprey VTOL troop transports. A screening force of Raptors and F-35's will escort you down to Honduras at high altitude. They will try to get the H/K's attention and distract them while your force flies in low, under fifteen hundred feet. We are hoping they will see the drones as assisting the fighters, and be happy to engage them while your transports slip past and drop their loads. The A-747's and their drones will stay to cover the transports, and return with the heavy lifters. Once they are well on their way north, the drones will be under your command, General," he told Cameron.
"The drones will be under my command all the way in case I need to modify the plan," Cameron stated.
"Of course, General."
"Cam, you and Allison will be in the first Osprey to land. After you're down, the heavy transports will start dropping their loads in combat drops," John said. To Allison, he asked, "Those large skids will be coming in fast, sure you can get them stopped and out of the way?"
"I will, Dad," Allison said firmly.
John hugged her and Cameron. "Good luck, and come back safe," he said. He kissed Cameron and gave Allison a kiss on her forehead.
"Bye, Ally," Byron said with a sniffle and hugged Allison tight.
"Let's go," Cameron stated, and led Allison out to the air field.
.
Allison had never seen so many planes! There were a line of big ones and small ones, and even planes that had the engines on their wing tips pointed up at the sky. Cameron led her over to one of these planes. They entered the plane through the rear ramp and took their seats. Already on the plane were officers and marines. The marines held machine guns, a few had missile launchers. The rear ramp closed.
A short while later, the engines started up. The pilot called back that the force was ready to depart.
"Commence the operation," Cameron called up to him.
Watching out the window, Allison saw the big jets lumber into the air one after the other. Once the last one was in the air, a long line of drones took off in pairs. Only after they all left, did their plane and the ones like it pick straight up off the ground. As they rose the engines slowly tilted forward to give them speed. The takeoff show was great. Once they were up in the air, a drone settled down far off to their side and stayed there. Allison drifted off to sleep to the monotonous tone of the engines.