Chapter 534

New Assignment

Savannah went over all her plans with Cameron. She wanted to double check to make sure Cameron agreed. This was a big step up for her. She didn't want to overreach. She didn't want to screw up and she didn't want anyone terminated.

Cameron ran a few things by her. She wanted to check to see how Savannah would handle each threat.

"What if we run into hostile Terminators?" Cameron asked.

Savannah didn't want any loose ends.

"Everyone will concentrate on the Terminators and resumes the battle as scheduled once the threat is neutralized." Savannah said.

Not all threats were on the ground.

"What if HK drones appear?" Cameron asked.

Savannah specifically addressed this issue when she asked for additional personnel. She was aware the threat against them at the last battle. Their drones were to provide close air support to the troops on the ground. That mission was flexible.

"I have a Stinger team with each group." Savannah said. "If our drones can detect them, they are to disengage and go after the HK drones first and then return."

Cameron knew they could face something worse than Terminators on the ground.

"What if HK Tracks or manned HK Treads roll out of the buildings?" Cameron asked.

Savannah prepared for that too. She liked to know what weapons were available. There were a few new systems. One of them was the wire guided missile.

"I have a TOW missile system with each group in as well as several M72 LAW rockets." Savannah said.

Cameron could see that plan was one of the most extensive they'd launched yet. It was at two locations as well.

"You did a lot of planning." Cameron said.

Savannah didn't think so. The basic plan was the same for her. The size or scope of it could be changed. Few of their operations were actually planned in advance. Most of them happened in the moment which put everyone at greater risk.

There were times when things were uncovered on a recon or surveillance that needed to be acted on at that time. The bigger threat was to allow the enemy time to prepare for an attack. That was the problem that Cameron faced recently. The Grays she attacked were dealing in drugs to finance their operation. They expected to face a street gang and were ready for them. They weren't ready to face a Terminator. Cameron took a lot of damage because her initial attack was delayed by several days.

"Not really. It's always the same plan." Savannah said. "It can be tailored or adjusted for a specific mission. This is one of the few we've been able to plan for ahead of time, rather than be forced to react to."

Savannah knew Cameron usually turned a recon into an assault to deal with the immediate threat. The real battles of the future would involve Grays, Terminators, HK Tracks, HK Treads and HK drones. Both conventional and unconventional weapons would be used. What she planned for now was like battling an ant. They would need to face a giant in the future.

If she couldn't pull this two pronged attack off. She wouldn't do well on a future battlefield. They were headed into this operation with every advantage. The battlefield was fluid and things could change fast. They would need to roll with the punches and fall back on contingency plans if it started to fall apart.

Cameron thought they were ready. She could see Savannah was apprehensive. This was a big step up for her.

"Do you wish for me to lead the assault or stay with you?" Cameron asked.

Savannah wanted to try first. If Cameron was with her she could call on her for advice of let her take over if she failed. She didn't want anyone terminated and she wanted damage at a minimum. If she lost control of that, she wasn't fit to lead. There was a lot that could go wrong and Cameron possessed a lot more experience than her. She would be the first to admit that there was no substitute for experience.

"I'd prefer if you stayed with me." Savannah said.

Cameron wanted to see what Savannah was really after.

"Is that so I'm not damaged or destroyed?" Cameron asked. "I'm a team member just like any other individual. I deserve no special consideration."

Savannah didn't answer at first. She knew Cameron was aware of her personal feelings.

"We both know that's not true." Savannah said. "And why."

Cameron looked at Savannah and continued. She wasn't the only one Savannah needed to worry about. Things happened fast on the battlefield.

"What about the rest of your troops?" Cameron asked.

Savannah knew anyone could get in a jam. A proper response would take time. She planned to act first with Cameron if that situation arose.

"You and I will act as our own 'MIKE Force' if needed." Savannah said. "We will engage the threat."

Cameron wanted to push Savannah a little and make her think.

"Is that the best use of your personnel?" Cameron asked.

Savannah didn't want to argue with Cameron about THIS. It was time to be like Cameron. The time for second guessing was over. It was time to act.

"I'll lead the assault myself." Savannah said. "You'll accompany me."

Cameron saw that Savannah wasn't bluffing. She didn't want to push her too far.

Savannah really hoped Cameron would use more caution if she was with her.

John heard the entire discussion and how Cameron tried to bully Savannah. He wasn't on board with the changes. He didn't understand Cameron's line of questioning.

"That's a negative on Savannah leading the assault. I want a different solution." John said over the com.

Savannah didn't need to argue this new development either. It was time to set everyone straight. It was her plan now and she was going to implement it. She didn't need an 'armchair quarterback' to get involved at the last minute.

"It's a tactical decision - General." Savannah said. "The decision has already been made and put into action. I'll keep you advised…."

Cameron smiled to herself. She looked at Savannah and nodded. She wanted Savannah to be decisive and forceful. She needed to stand up to John and her and she'd just done both of those things. That was what she wanted the most from this battle out of Savannah. She wanted Savannah to fight for what she believed in and to do the right things.

John didn't like it. Savannah just blew him off. He knew Cameron was a bad influence on her. They should all listen to him. Maybe the events on the ground would change that but the battle hadn't even started yet.

John Henry was pleased with the changes Savannah made. All of them were sound and better protected the troops. There was no flaw in her planning. Once the battle started things could change. Right now Savannah was good in his opinion.

"Savannah is very capable." John Henry said. "Her plan is workable."

It wasn't the plan that bothered John. It was the reasons behind it. Savannah was human. The rest of her troops weren't. She would try to fight like them.

"She's also easier to be hurt or killed." John said. "She's placing herself in harms way to make Cameron use more caution."

John Henry tilted his head slightly.

"Isn't that what you want?" John Henry asked.

It was what John wanted but not at the expense of Savannah. The risk fell squarely on Savannah's shoulders at this point. Maybe Cameron was better protected. Savannah wasn't.

"Cameron is going to get Savannah injured or killed." John said.

John saw John Henry cut all the com links. He wondered what was up.

John Henry thought this was a training lesson for both Savannah and John about different things. He didn't know if John understood.

"John, there's only one way to keep Savannah out of harms way and from doing this." John Henry said. "Cameron's SHOWING you what you WANT and what you FEEL."

John knew what he felt. It was very overpowering right now on several levels. He didn't need to be reminded about what he already knew.

"Cameron's risking Savannah's well being to prove her point that I need to take Savannah by my side and allow her to be the mother of our children…." John said. "This isn't the way to make that point."

John Henry saw it for what it was.

"Cameron knows that it's the ONLY way to make Savannah safer for BOTH of you." John Henry said.

John knew it was too late to change things unless the whole plan was called off. He needed to make the best of the situation. He was sure Cameron manipulated everything so that he would come to this conclusion at this point. She was good, real good.

"Use your secure link to Cameron and tell her it's her function to protect Savannah AND herself." John said.

John Henry was way ahead of John on this one.

"I already have." John Henry said.

He didn't know that CamNet already did the same thing but with much greater force behind it.

Holly was in the manned drone. It wasn't part of the original plan. It was held in reserve along with the Blackhawk. She'd changed that plan by including herself in the operation on her own. She checked all the controls and weapons systems again. She was unsure what happened between her and Allison. She'd 'run away'. She felt inadequate for Allison. She knew Allison needed Vanna at her side, not her.

When Holly learned of the upcoming assault, she left and asked John Henry to assign her to combat and bypass Cameron. She didn't want to have to deal with her or be ordered around for Cameron's desires. What she wanted and felt mattered too.

John Henry knew it was a 'personal issue' and quietly assigned Holly to what he thought would be the safest task. The manned drone was to be held in reserve. He knew once Cameron found out she was going to be angry. It was what it was for now.

Anna was tasked to watch over both Allisons since Holly was 'away'. It was a specific request from Savannah. She'd needed to check on Young Allison and Summer and was distracted. She didn't know it was a purposeful diversion. Her phone rang.

It was an 'immediate alert' from the Young Detail. There was a problem.

"Allison has slipped out." The report came. "There are two Terminators following her."

Anna was instantly angry. She'd been duped. Allison pulled a fast one on her. The 'Cameron' in her was very angry right now.

"She's running." Anna said. "There are some personal issues that have developed. Intercept and stop her. Use all the Terminators. Hanna and I will hold here. Return Allison back here immediately. Carry her back if necessary."

Anna cut the connection. She searched out Hanna. This shouldn't have happened.

Hanna and her were to watch Young Allison and Summer. Anna listened and heard. It was clear that Claire and Hanna were sharing. There was no immediate threat so she bypassed them. It was clear why Hanna was no help in detecting that Allison ran away.

Anna found Young Allison. She would turn this into a learning opportunity for everyone.

"We're conducting a drill - NOW." Anna said. "Pretend I'm not here and you're on your own. You will do everything as you've been trained. Remember you currently face the unknown and it's most likely the enemy. You'll need to make some hard choices."

Young Allison immediately went to the alarm to activate it. Anna prevented her from actually pushing it and said consider it activated. She knew that if she'd sounded the alarm for real that it would alert everyone in the house and the protection Detail next door. There was always the possibility the alarm would fail too.

She knew her two primary functions were to make sure Summer and her were safe. It was her function to protect the both of them. As time or conditions allowed she was to seek out Allison and then her mother in that order. That was the way Cameron and the Metal girls trained her. Her survival was paramount and then people mattered in place of importance to the future, not the present.

Young Allison found Summer and led her away. If no one was guiding her she was to retreat into the bunker. She didn't see Allison and Anna waved her off from her mother. She understood why. She knew what was going on in there. She'd peeked in an open door more than a few times. She quickly led Summer to the bunker. She looked around and then sealed the bunker door. She entered a second compartment and sealed that door as well. Anna was already inside, out of the way. She headed to the arms locker. A note was in inside of it when she opened it, it said, 'consider yourself armed'. Young Allison closed the locker.

Summer was upset about what they were doing. She told her they needed to be quiet. They were 'training' for a 'secret mission' and to think of it as a game. Summer liked to play games because she almost always won. She was never sure how Summer could always do so well in any game.

"Let's play." Summer said.

Young Allison wanted to give Summer some incentive.

"If you want to win, come with me." Young Allison said.

Young Allison and Summer both learned from Cameron that winning was the most important thing. Winning meant surviving. It meant living.

Young Allison told Summer she needed to follow her instructions if she wanted to win.

Summer knew winning was important. She was taught if you didn't win, you lost. There was no second place winner.

Anna sent Young Allison a text. It said to pretend there was an explosion in the house and another one at the Detail house next door. The assumption was they were under a direct and target attack. They could expect the attackers to come after them now.

Young Allison saw Anna in the shadows and nodded to her.

"Come on, Summer, we are going on a 'secret trip'." Young Allison said.

Young Allison led Summer away to the escape tunnel.

Anna was happy with Young Allison actions. The training mission continued….

Hanna heard the first bunker door close and then the second one.

'What the Hell?' Hanna thought.

She'd just 'finished' up with Claire for now.

Hanna looked for her phone. It'd been dropped in the other room along with her pants. Claire's phone was there as well with her clothes.

Claire was still sprawled naked on the bed. She struggled for breath. She'd been taken to the edge almost but hadn't crossed it.

Hanna grabbed her Glock and quickly searched the house as she called Anna.

"What the Hell is happening?" Hanna asked. "Where is everyone?"

Anna wanted to mess with Hanna since she'd been so involved earlier with Claire.

"Have you gone outside to look?" Anna asked. "There could be trouble."

Hanna still carried her Glock as she searched for a threat.

"I'm going around the outside now. I see nothing." Hanna said.

Anna suppressed a laugh as she pictured Hanna outside right now.

"Did you forget anything?" Anna asked.

Hanna checked around her again.

"No. I'm assessing threats, I haven't found any." Hanna said.

Anna didn't want Hanna to create too big of an uproar in the neighborhood.

"You probably look stunning to the neighbors." Anna said.

Hanna looked down at herself and quickly returned inside. She was still naked.

"That's not funny." Hanna said. "It's a good thing it's dark now."

Anna was pleased that she pulled one off on Hanna. Now it was time to get to the details of what all was occurring.

"Relax." Anna said. "Go back to Claire and be alert anyway. Here's what is happening…."

Anna clued Hanna in on everything that was going down - besides Claire and her ….

Holly received the alert that Allison slipped out. Now she was worried. This was HER fault. If anything happened to Allison, Cameron would deactivate her. She wanted to go find Allison. Now she was committed to a mission instead.

"Holly, get ready." John Henry said. "It's 'Showtime'."

John Henry received the alert that Allison slipped out. He knew that meant Cameron would get it also.

Savannah still held Cameron's phone.

"Damn." Savannah said as she saw the alert.

She knew she needed to get this new problem taken care of.

"Holly, you have a new assignment. I want you to scramble now and start your 'special recon'." Savannah said. "You know what to do - for both of us."

Savannah released Holly from the current operation to go help locate and protect Allison. The manned drone would be a good addition for doing that.

Holly was pleased that Savannah allowed her to deviate from the mission. She was extra for the mission anyway since the manned drone was originally to be held in reserve along with the Blackhawk. It wasn't part of the original plan.

"Thank You, Savannah." Holly said.

Cameron looked over at Savannah.

"What's happening?" Cameron asked.

Savannah wasn't sure this was the time to get specific with Cameron. She knew the stress that Holly being away from Allison caused her. Now with Allison out on her own accord, that was sure to set Cameron off. She felt the situation was under control for now. She hoped so anyway.

"There's another issue that needed to be addressed as well." Savannah said. "I've assigned Holly to that task."

Cameron wanted to know more.

"Will it compromise our mission?" Cameron asked.

"No, we will adapt, improvise and overcome if we need to." Savannah said.

Cameron received the alert from CamNet as well. She wanted to see what Savannah would do. So far it was everything she would've done. Allison needed to be protected.

It was 'Showtime'.

"All units move out." Savannah ordered.

"What's happening?" John asked.

John Henry blocked all 'unnecessary' information to John at CamNet urging. He wasn't going to counter that directive.

"It is an additional element for Savannah to deal with." John Henry said. "She has it under control."

John figured it was a minor issue.

"Let's focus on the assault…." John said. "It's 'Showtime'."

New Assignment

There always seems to be
Some new or different task
They just need to be done
There's no point to ask

Things never get done
By only thinking about them
Hesitation to respond quickly
Is from where most problems stem

To avoid the current dilemma
Only seems to make it worse
To allow the problem to build
Is a sure ride in a hearse

Each new challenge
Is best met head on
To sidestep the issues
Will new difficulties spawn

It doesn't take refinement
With a heart on consignment
Is to realize it's really confinement
Unless love seeks a new assignment

Nobody