Chapter 340

Go Time

The Resistance team was at the recon location. It looked like they were about to witness a second group attack the building. There was a possibility it was actually three groups involved. They waited and watched the events unfold.

John considered taking more drastic action first with their drones. Cameron advised him against it. She wanted the herd to 'thin' itself first before they acted.

Savannah was supposed to be on a training mission. It evolved into much more than a simple recon now. Cameron wanted John and her out of the area. She refused to go. She said she needed to 'get her hands dirty' and now was as good a time as any. It was going to happen sooner or later. There were seven Terminators there along with John. Their team was backed up by four drones. She didn't think her first combat related mission could have much better support for something which changed from a recon to combat in just a few minutes time.

Fighting broke out in the target area.

The group which just arrived attacked the building they were surveilling. They came from three different directions. They seemed to be from the same group. They weren't sure at first if they would be or not.

They needed to check behind them often as they were in the fourth direction. It just seemed to be luck. Then again, they came in from over a small hill. They took the more difficult route there. They also figured it would be guarded the least if there were sentries. None were encountered. The other three sides could be accessed easily.

It appeared the attackers decided the easiest route to their target was simply to drive up to it on the available roads. The drone on wide recon around them didn't indicate anyone was behind them, well, at least not yet anyway.

The two vans discharged a group of men. They were most likely Future Grays. The two SUVs contained one Gray and one Terminator each. The two Terminators went straight in the front. They led the assault. The Grays followed them in. No one stayed to watch the vehicles. It didn't look like they planned on leaving anytime soon. They obviously expected to be the victors. It was possible they wanted whatever was inside of the building. It was what their team originally went there to find out. They wanted to know what the Skynet group inside of the building was up to.

John suggested they should attempt to capture as much Skynet equipment as possible without destroying all of it. He wanted to put it to use for the Resistance. He received mixed reviews on his idea. Some of them were for it, some of them were against it. His mother thought it all should be destroyed. Cameron thought it was a good idea and they would need it going forward. More equipment Skynet was able to build, the harder it would be for them to combat it with limited resources. They hoped to come across an assembly line, or at least stored finished product. Any HK equipment they could capture while it was inactive would be a bonus.

Cameron watched them attack. She was aware it is how she used to launch an assault. After repeated and extensive damage, she used more caution now. She instructed her Terminators to use caution and prudence as well to minimize damage. She tried to protect her 'friends', both Terminator and human. All of them wore body armor as well in a planned assault, or a recon like tonight was supposed to be. She didn't like to take unnecessary chances when she didn't have to. She would really like for John and Savannah to withdraw.

There was no doubt in her mind the Terminators and her were going to see combat in a very short period of time. It was clear to her Savannah wanted to stay the course. Savannah looked very determined and was combat ready. She hoped to control the conditions as much as possible. Her four Terminators would take on the brunt of the fighting. Bob was to remain with John at all times. John Henry was to remain with Savannah at all times. She would need to break away from the group at some point and take matters into her own hands. It was usually how events played out anyway.

The flashes of light from the fight reached Savannah's eyes before the sounds of the gunfire did. There was a very slight delay. It wasn't like what she saw in the movies. There, it was always depicted with the explosion and the sound occurring at the same time in the distance. She knew the closer to the fight they got, the less the time lag would be. The danger level would also go up the closer she neared the combat site.

She couldn't help but think about how a person never heard the bullet that 'got' them. It was because in almost every case the bullet traveled faster than the speed of sound. If they took one in the head, it was over before they heard it. It happened fast, lights on, lights off. Since she thought about how it would be several times, she hoped it wasn't some type of premonition about what was going to happen to her. She might be aware one second and then they would be nothing the next second and forever afterward. She swallowed hard and continued her observation.

Savannah knew there were people dying inside the building as the gunfire raged on. One group was going to kill the other. Their team was going to kill whoever was left. She wasn't sure what her part would be. She was ready to do what was necessary, when it was necessary. She remembered to be vigilant and continued to check what happened around her and not concentrate on what was happening where the battle raged. Cameron encouraged her to keep situation awareness and not develop target fixation.

Camille and Cammy were in position behind the first and second SUV. The two male 'Cameron clones' were behind the two vans. No one who arrived in them would leave in those vehicles. If they weren't damaged, Cameron would add them to her 'collection' of 'drop vehicles'. They would be used once or twice and then left on the east side of town with the keys in it. A gang member would steal it soon enough. If the vehicle was identified at one of the crime scenes, the gang member, and gang, would get the blame. No one ever believed them the vehicle was just sitting there with the keys in it, in a neighborhood where crime was rampant and in many cases, a way of life.

The fight moved inside the structure. The sounds of the battle drifted out. There were occasional flashes coming from within. Screams punctuated the gunfire.

Savannah knew it could be screams from them if they came under heavy attack. She was determined to hold her ground.

John moved the team closer. Cameron was at Savannah's side, John Henry was behind her. Bob covered John. The five of them advanced in a loose group.

Cameron kept track of both Savannah and John. It didn't matter if there was a Terminator assigned to each of them. She wanted to check the proficiency of both of them as well as make sure they remained safe. The Terminators all knew they were supposed to use their chassis as a shield to protect the humans if necessary. She was no exception to the rule either. She would do it without hesitation to protect any of them, including the Terminators.

Cam monitored their progress from the drone footage and body cams. She gave them an update.

"You have all four drones on station." Cam reported.

John wanted to strike while the two enemies fought each other. He wanted to capture any HK equipment. He was willing to forgo such an endeavor under the current circumstances. There was something else he wanted even more. He wanted to keep Savannah safe.

"I think we should hit them now." John said.

Cameron was more experienced in this regard. She did the same thing many times with others besides just Skynet related activity. There was a set pattern to follow. She wanted to remind John of their earlier plan. Well, it was her plan anyway.

"Not yet." Cameron said. "We need to wait until the firing stops. When it does, one group should have 'won'. There will be fewer targets for us to engage. Let's let them kill each other off first."

Sheila was in the Command Center with Cam. There were additional resources available to them.

"I'm ready to send the Blackhawk." Sheila said.

Cameron didn't want to commit more of their group unless it was necessary.

"Don't send it yet." Cameron said. "If we need to fight, you may need to send them."

Ally and Vanna arrived at the Command Center.

Vanna wanted to know the status of the troops. She was worried about all of them, especially Savannah. It appeared as if the operation was going to expand Beyond a simple recon. It actually didn't surprise her at all. She needed to focus on her job. If she worried too much it would affect her performance.

"We'll get the lab ready in case we have any Terminators down." Vanna said.

No one wanted to mention what it would be like if John or Savannah were injured. The infirmary was next to the lab. Any Terminator could 'plug in' to the medical database to do surgery, or render medical aid like a professional.

Ally and Vanna left to go to the lab.

As soon as they reached the lab, Riley and Sarah arrived soon afterward. Jan was asleep in Sarah's quarters. Everyone wanted to help if it was needed. They all hoped it wouldn't be needed.

Sarah could see Vanna looked very upset. She knew why. It was because Savannah was out. The target zone was hot with bullets and explosions as two other groups fought it out. She felt the need to address the situation.

"I don't like it either, Vanna." Sarah said. "We all know she needs the experience."

Vanna did know Savannah needed to get her 'hands dirty' sooner or later. No one expected for them to be in the middle of a fight between two groups of the enemy right now.

"I know." Vanna said. "I just don't like it. They hadn't planned on this level of violence."

Vanna KNEW there were a lot of things Savannah was going to HAVE to do.

Sarah knew the battlefield was fluid.

"Anything can happen at any time and any place." Sarah said. "Cameron will guide her."

The four females silently got everything ready.

They all knew how these things went.

The gunfire inside the building seemed to subside. There was only an occasional burst every now and then. One side must be the victor already. It was relatively fast.

Cameron was ready for the next phase. She made sure all of their troops were ready. It was time to up the ante. She wanted to know more about what was inside of the building. She looked at John and then at Savannah. There were more important things to consider.

"Send in two drones for a strike. Use all the ordnance." Cameron said. "It's the only way to make sure."

Cam already arranged for the two new drones which just arrived to strike. They were fitted exclusively for a ground strike before they left. Normally they would carry two small air to air missiles.

"The missiles are ready to go." Cam reported.

Cameron noticed Savannah still wore her night vision equipment. She didn't want her to lose her actual night vision in the brightness of the explosions. It would take her some time to get it back. There should be plenty of light radiating from the area once the missiles hit.

"Take off your night vision for now." Cameron said to Savannah. "Cover your eyes."

One drone fired. The second one did as well several seconds later. It fired from ninety degree angle to ensure further destruction inside of the structure. The building erupted into a fireball. Those two drones gained altitude and took over surveillance. They were still armed with a minigun. They wouldn't hesitate to use it either.

The other two drones moved in ready to strike.

There was plenty of light to see by now in the target area from the burning building.

Two men staggered out. Cameron's Terminators dropped them where they stood. The gunfire was much louder and closer now.

Cameron didn't want any of them to escape.

"We need to cover the back." Cameron said. "My Terminators have the front covered."

Cameron spoke to her male Terminators. She instructed them to enter the structure and look for intel or survivors. Camille and Cammy were to keep their retreat exit secure.

John and Bob moved the team closer. They went to the side of the building. They went around the side of the building towards the rear. Cameron observed everyone and the overall situation.

Savannah felt her heartbeat pick up again as they moved closer.

No sooner than John's team reached the back, than someone made it outside. They were on fire. It was a Terminator.

Cameron moved in front of Savannah.

"Stay behind me, Savannah." Cameron told her. "Watch her back, John Henry."

Bob opened up with the Coltan loaded M60. The flaming wreck of the burning chassis fell.

Savannah thought the sustained gunfire was loud, even with ear protection. She followed behind Cameron. She stayed close but not too close. She didn't want to be bunched up. Her M4 was ready to rock. All she needed was a target.

Cameron looked back at Savannah a few times. She saw she was alert and ready for anything.

Savannah glanced to her side. There was a small shed there. As she looked at it, the door started to open. She saw a rifle barrel begin to poke out. Someone was about to flank them and open up on their group from cover. She dropped to one knee and fired half her magazine into the opening in two bursts. The first burst was at chest height the second burst was at ground level. It was the only way to be sure the target was down. It all happened in less than two seconds.

John Henry immediately moved in front of her. Savannah quickly changed her half full magazine for a full one. She didn't know what would happen next.

Cameron moved back to assess the situation. She didn't like the fact both John Henry and her missed the threat. Savannah was on the ball and took the threat down. There was no doubt some of those in her group would have sustained damage if the sniper wouldn't have been stopped before they engaged them. It made her wonder who the targets would have been.

Savannah told Cameron what she saw and fired at. There was no return fire so she must have scored and ended the threat.

"Stay here and stay low." Cameron instructed her.

Savannah watched Cameron advance towards the new threat. She was sure she scored hits on the target. She acted to protect their team. She reacted like she was trained to. She was hyper alert now. All of her senses seemed refined and tuned.

Cameron wanted to get a closer look. It was an out of the way spot for someone to set up an ambush, or be a sniper. She didn't know if it was someone who arrived on foot they missed, or exactly where they came from. She checked with both Cam and Sheila. No one detected any movement to the shed from the surrounding area. She began to contemplate the other possibilities as to where they came from.

She advanced toward the shed. She shoved the door open. There was a man with an assault rifle laying there, he was dead. She quickly looked him over. She looked further. There was an opening in the floor. It must have been an escape route from the main structure. It was one of the possibilities she only just thought of before she arrived at the shed. There was no other explanation as to how the individual would have gotten there otherwise.

"I have an underground opening." Cameron said. "Bob, hold up and cover John and Savannah there. Watch our exit, John Henry. I'm probably going to lose communications when I check out the tunnel."

Cameron wanted to check the tunnel. She also didn't want the potential for there to be any of the enemy in front of them and in back of them. She didn't know what she would find. Maybe she could get a prisoner. There was a damage Terminator to collect now as well. The helicopter would be useful.

"Send the Blackhawk." Cameron said. "We may need it."

Cam may have jumped the gun a little. She took some preemptive action on her own.

"It was wheels up as soon as Bob opened fire." Cam reported back.

Derek and Kyle were on the way along with four more of their Terminators.

Minutes ago:

Derek and Kyle were in the Blackhawk. They were geared up and all set to go. Steve and Tom sat across from them. Al and Ed each sat next to a door. They were ready to close them as soon as it was 'go time'. They remained open in case any additional weapons or personnel would need to be added for a specific mission.

The helicopter was already warmed up and ready to go.

Derek looked at the cockpit crew, out both of the open doors, and then at Kyle.

"This is the part I hate." Derek said.

Kyle knew what he meant. He hated it too. The inaction was very stressful.

"The hurry up and wait phase." Kyle said.

Derek looked over the Terminators. He turned his attention back to Kyle.

"It's the one." Derek said. "I'm worried about Savannah too."

They both knew Savannah was out on her first real mission.

"She'll do fine." Kyle said. "Cameron and John Henry are with her."

They were aware John Henry was seldom out in the field. It said something in itself. Everyone would use extra caution.

"It's still her first time." Derek said.

Kyle knew what could happen to females if they were captured. Actually it wasn't 'could', it was really 'would'. There didn't seem to be an exception to the rule from any females which ever escaped from a Skynet work camp.

"I don't want it to be her first time for anything else." Kyle said. "We know how the Grays treat females when they're captured or injured."

Derek didn't think there was too much of a difference between Scavengers and Grays in that regard. They both abused every female they could lay their hands on. The Grays needed to keep them alive for work camp duty. The Scavengers didn't. They slowly butchered the females alive as they abused them over time. Few females ever came out of a Scavenger camp without a physical injury of some type, or a few body parts missing. The mental injuries of the abuse, and what the females witnessed, were as everlasting as the physical injuries were. In many cases, they were actually even worse. Damage to the mind didn't always heal, even if the abuse on the body did.

They monitored the com traffic. They heard the 'Pig' open up.

Derek went on full alert.

"That's our call." Derek said.

A second later the Command Center scrambled them.

The turbine fired and the rotor began to turn.

"It's 'go time'." Kyle said.

Al and Ed closed the doors on the Blackhawk as it lifted off.

The Reese brothers were ready for combat. They would soon be back in the element they wanted to be in to protect their families and loved ones. The enemy was out there. They knew where they were at. They intended to come home. They would make sure the enemy didn't.

Cameron was aware of more firing inside the building as she dropped inside the shaft from the shed. She hoped it was her Terminators mopping up. She lost communications as soon as the shaft reached a tunnel below it and she entered it.

She moved silently through the tunnel towards the building. There was a lot of smoke in the tunnel. It was probably from when the man tried to make a break for it. She used all of her Terminator senses as the smoke thickened. Standard vision was all but useless. She used different vision spectrums instead.

Cameron heard coughing in front of her. She stopped and waited. There were more people in the tunnel. They were obviously humans. They came towards her. A man and a woman appeared from the haze of the dense smoke. They both were surprised to see her. In a millisecond, she made a decision about what she wanted to do with both of them. She drove her fist into the man's chest. She collapsed both his lungs and crushed his heart. He fell silently. He was dead. She grabbed the woman's neck and choked her out before she could scream or issue a warning.

She tore the shirt off the dead man. She tightly gagged and hogtied the female. She planned to interrogate her, herself. She left her there for now and continued forward. There was a possibility the smoke would thicken more and kill the female before she returned. It wasn't her problem. She knew John's team would keep the shed covered if anyone got past her.

Cameron could hear gunfire in front of her. It came from above her. By the distance traveled, she calculated she was now under the building. She started up a narrow shaft on metal rungs. As she reached a hatch which covered the shaft above her, it opened. In one swift motion her Glock was in her hand. She fired point blank into the face of a man. He disappeared from view. Cameron flung the hatch all the way back. More thick smoke poured into the shaft opening. She all but jumped out of the shaft ready for more action.

There was some more firing off to her left side. The building was a raging inferno inside. The visibility was almost zero for any humans. She was able to communicate again as soon as she was out of the tunnel. All her Terminators were accounted for with minimal damage. They collected two deactivated and damaged Terminators. They were ready to take the captured Terminators with them. All of the human targets were neutralized. There were no survivors, even if anyone was still alive when they were encountered.

Cameron told Camille and Cammy to take the two SUVs and drive around to the back.

Everyone exited the burning building. Cameron dropped down the shaft back into the tunnel. She collected the still unconscious woman and exited into the shed. The dead man was where he fell.

Cameron looked over the terminated man in detail. She dropped him down the shaft and ripped the handle off the hatch after she closed it. She then shoved a large crate on top of it.

Cameron was unsure what to tell Savannah. She didn't see there was anything else there to take. No one was damaged other than her two male Terminators. They were both one hundred percent functional. They were the ones who did the 'cleanup' inside of the building. The victors of the gun battle were soon the vanquished.

"Cancel the copter." Cameron said. "We're done here. Everything is under control."

Cameron wanted to exit the area and get John and Savannah back to a safer location. It seemed to be any other place than where they were right now. She didn't want any additional surprises of any type. She didn't like surprises.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Go Time

Does 'go time' mean
Things are about to start
Or does 'go time' mean
It all just fell apart

It's the very question
That few are to be able to answer
They can't seem to recognize
When it turned into a cancer

Maybe that's just it
People are victims of hope
The longer it drags out
The more they feel like a dope

Why is it that so few people
Are able to quickly move on
And let one go when it's over
It's always darkest before the dawn

Everyone's a slow learner until
Their self worth is filled with slime
They realized they wasted their prime
When they failed to accept it was 'go time'

Nobody