Chapter 701

Out Of Time

Cam looked around to make sure it was clear and climbed out of the crate. She lowered herself down to the ground. She stayed behind the stacked crates for cover, she looked around again. She wanted to make sure her unconventional arrival wasn't detected. There was no shouting or gunfire. She knew she was unobserved.

She decided to check out the crates in better detail. She wanted to know for sure what they were dealing with. There were crates with Coltan, HK drone engines and mechanized tread components for HK Tracks. There were crates of weapons and munitions. There were a lot of crates.

Cam wanted to find where the Terminator she spotted earlier was at. She needed to know if there was more than one. She spied the HK drone assembly line. They were putting one together as she watched. There were two more HK drones already completed. They waited for shipment or flight. She moved to deactivate them.

Bob and Derek we're still outside the perimeter of the old newspaper plant. They were to watch for any reinforcements that arrived during the attack. It seemed they spotted a new problem that was related to the current operation.

"We have a big rig, like the one Cameron tracked, coming down the street." Bob said. "It will be there in three minutes."

John didn't think that it would threaten the operation. He actually thought that it would aid it if it was empty. They would need additional trucks to carry away the materials that Cam reported were inside the building. This seemed to be more of a bonus than a hindrance.

"Let it pass." John said. "We'll need it to transport some of the captured materials."

John Henry thought that the big rig presented an opportunity. Rather than the truck full of Terminators appearing on its own, it could appear shortly after the arrival of the big rig. That would most certainly guarantee that the doors to the interior would be open.

"I think Ed should follow it in, about a minute after the big rig parks. They will most likely open a door or two." John Henry said.

John was on board with that idea. Everybody should be ready to go. He checked to make sure.

"Ed, are you ready?" John asked.

"Affirmative…." Ed said.

Cam looked further around the interior of the building by where she was at near the doors where the boxcars were spotted. She heard the Command Center discuss the big rig and she was pretty sure that they were going to need a lot more than one or two trucks.

"John, I think we may need a few more big trucks." Cam said. "I have two completed drones, dozens of HK drone engines and many other parts as well as Coltan. There are crates of weapons and munitions too. There are a lot of valuable items here. I haven't had that much opportunity to look further around the building. I'm trying to remain unobserved."

CamNet contacted John Henry and updated him with new information based on Cam's assessment.

"CamNet has informed me more trucks are on the way." John Henry said.

John thought that was a fast response. He was sure that was put into motion before Cam made her current assessment. He was worried about something else that would affect Cam directly. The operation overall could be affected by it as well.

"Have you spotted the Terminator, Cam?" John asked. "We need to know where he's at and how he'll respond."

The Terminator had been Cam's primary target when she exited the crate. She hoped to knock him out before the battle started. She'd been unable to locate him. She needed to watch her back because she was afraid that when she found him, it would be because he'd found her. She thought at this point that some backup might be a good idea in case that eventuality came to fruition.

"No, I'm trying to stay unobserved." Cam said. "Have Steve's team move up under the boxcar as soon as they can. I want them to be able to make a quick entry."

Steve already quietly moved his team up once Bob gave the all clear that the roving patrol was around to the south side of the building.

"We're in place." Steve said. "We can be inside in seconds."

Dan moved his team to his assigned position as well. They were ready to move forward.

"We're ready to breach the office area." Dan said.

Cam decided to chance it and moved her position deeper into the building. She was well into the interior at this point. What she discovered worried her quite a bit. It was a row of HK Track, if they were active and on autonomous control it could spell disaster to the team. She decided to take action.

"I'm at an HK Track assembly line now." Cam said. "It's functioning as well. I see half a dozen HK Tracks ready to roll. I'm going to try to disable them."

John still felt her biggest threat came from the Terminator. Unfortunately she'd lost track of him while she was still in the crate.

"Keep an eye out for the Terminator." John said. "Be careful."

Jim and Kyle were on the opposite side of the facility from Bob and Derek. They tracked the big rig as it moved into the compound.

"The big rig has entered the facility." Jim reported.

Cam could see that she was going to need some backup. She wanted to try to do things quietly for as long as they could. She still only carried her Glock and Taser.

"Steve, move in with the silenced weapons at the ready." Cam said. "I need more firepower."

Sheila carried a vest and M4 for Cam.

"I have everything for you." Sheila said. "I'll bring it to you myself."

Jim watched as the big rig backed up to the dock and then set the brakes. The driver turned the engine off and climbed down from the cab.

"The truck is parked." Jim said. "Ed, start your run."

Ed already started his approach. He was in the position he wanted to be to make the proper rendezvous as they'd previously discussed.

"I'll be there in thirty seconds and parked in one minute." Ed said. "The Trojan Horse is on the move."

Bob and Derek checked the south side and east side of the complex.

"Everything is clear around us on the south side." Bob said.

Jim and Kyle checked everything on the west side and north side of the facility.

"It's all clear on the north end." Jim said.

John wanted to make sure all the teams were ready to move.

"Dan, it's one minute until to 'go time'." John said.

Cam wanted her backup team now. She felt exposed with the procedure that she currently performed. She was sure to be spotted.

"Steve, come in closer now. Look for targets of opportunity." Cam said. "I'm disabling the HK Tracks. I'm totally exposed."

Cam looked around and started on the first HK Track to disable it. She knew there was insufficient time to reprogram it. She quickly moved from HK Track to HK Track, expecting to be discovered at any second. So far there were no alarms. That could change in an instant. She lacked any heavy firepower at the moment. She kept a watch out for the Terminator.

Cameron left the rest of her team off at the location CamNet informed her about. She could see there were some reservations about it.

Sarah didn't look happy about where they were at. There were certain lines that she didn't like the cross. Where they were at now was one of them.

"This is 'emergency equipment'." Sarah said. "We shouldn't use it."

Cameron already anticipated this problem not only from Sarah but from Savannah as well. She's already contacted CamNet to make sure what she wanted to do would be covered. It was, several times over.

"I'll purchase them two of everything that gets damaged." Cameron said. "I know this equipment is important, Sarah. We need to use it right now and it is currently unable to be used for its intended purpose due to a shortage of manpower by the county."

Cameron was ready to leave for further recon of the complex.

Savannah knew she needed to go with Cameron.

"I'll go with you, Cameron." Savannah said as she gathered her gear.

Sarah looked around at the collection of Terminators around her and was a little befuddled. She was worried about Savannah going with Cameron.

"There are plenty of Terminators here, Savannah." Sarah said.

It was clear that every Terminator was more than willing to take Savannah's place.

"I'll go." Every Terminator said at the same time.

Sarah was a little surprised by the unanimous response.

"That was almost funny." Sarah said.

All of the Terminators were ready to step up to help protect Cameron AND Savannah.

Savannah was worried her actions would influence Sarah's actions. She decided to choose one Terminator to go in her place. She picked the most logical choice to help damper Cameron's impulsiveness. She picked the Terminator most like her.

"Anna, you'll go with Cameron." Savannah said. "That's final."

Savannah hoped the files of 'her' in Anna would help keep Cameron from going ballistic on her own. She also knew that 'Cameron' was Anna's base program. They would be able to work well together.

Anna nodded. She knew why Savannah selected her.

Savannah was a little worried about Anna's safety as well as Cameron's but for different reasons.

"Don't let me down." Savannah said. "Or Young Allison, I don't want her worried."

Anna knew that Savannah wanted her to use restraint and not get shot up. She also knew she needed to keep Cameron from trying to do too much by herself.

Cameron took one last look around their staging area. Everything was in place to get started. She wanted to reassure Sarah as well as Savannah that everything would be taken care of if there was any damage.

"The rest of you suit up." Cameron said. "This station is out of service for six more days. It's due to county budget cutbacks and department shortfalls. I'll have CamNet replace anything we damage. Cammy, this is what I need you to do…."

As soon as Cameron was done talking to Cammy, it was time to go.

Cameron looked at Anna. They both looked at Savannah.

"Let's move." Anna said.

Cameron and Anna headed out.

Cameron already knew where she would breach the old mill at. She'd seen a spot from the hillside that looked like they would have easier unobserved access to get inside the perimeter.

Steve previously moved his team under the boxcar. There were four of them. They were all ready to go.

"Steve, move in now." Cam said.

Steve moved out and led the way forward.

"Up we go." Steve said.

The team of four squeezed through the gap between the boxcar and the wall. They scrambled onto the workroom floor and headed for the crates Cam told them to go to.

Steve and Al each carried a silenced MP5, as well as their M4. Ally and Sheila each carried a suppressed M4. The supersonic 5.56MM rounds couldn't be as quiet as the subsonic 9MM rounds they used in an MP5. Subsonic ammunition was readily available in 9MM.

"We're at the first 'way point'." Steve said.

Cam directed Steve where to go specifically based on her experience from moving around inside the building.

"Steve, head to your right for seventy-three feet and then turn left. You'll arrive at the HK drone assembly line." Cam said. "Watch out for the Terminator. I don't know where he is or even how many there are. That's the main threat here."

Since Steve's team only carried two silenced weapons, he split Al and Sheila off and chose Ally as his teammate.

"Ally, you're with me." Steve said as they took off.

Cam was aware that Steve split his force. She wanted to direct Al where to go next. She knew Sheila carried an M4 for her.

"Al, go to your left one hundred and twelve feet and then turn right. You'll end up at the HK Track assembly line." Cam said. "I'm moving past that location further on to the southwest side. I hear some kind of activity there and need to see what it is. Watch out for the Terminator."

"Sheila, you are with me." Al said as they took off.

John and John Henry monitored everything from the Command Center.

"Ed should be backed up to the dock in ten seconds." John Henry said.

John wanted Dan's team to move into the office section at the same time.

"Dan, get ready to move into the office area." John said.

John Henry heard Cam state where she was going. He wanted to know what she was after specifically.

"Cam, what are you tracking?" John Henry asked.

Cam was pretty sure it is what she viewed is the biggest threat to the team.

"I think it's a Terminator." Cam said. "They're building something, I can hear them."

Cam checked in back of her and around her as she moved. She knew it was going to go 'hot' in a few seconds.

She held her Glock in one hand and her Taser in the other as she crept forward. She faintly heard a silenced MP5 whisper death in the distance, then again, closer this time. Steve and Al were at 'work'.

Cam peaked over a row of inactive machinery to see an HK Tread being worked on by two Terminators. There was another HK Tread parked not far from it. She didn't know if either was operational. She hoped not.

"I've discovered two HK Treads." Cam said. "They're in the southwest corner. There are least two Terminators as well."

The sound of gunfire broke out from the truck loading dock area. Cam could hear silenced and suppressed rounds as well.

The two Terminators working on the HK Tread looked at each other. One grabbed an M249 and headed toward the loading dock. The other one climbed into the HK Tread that they'd been working on.

Cam could see right away that both of those events were going to be very problematic for her.

Cameron and Anna moved along a row of outbuildings. She pointed out the two observation posts on the hillside to Anna.

Anna looked up to the spots where Cameron indicated.

"Only one appears manned." Anna said.

Only one was manned because Cameron terminated the Gray that manned the other one.

"CamNet is 'manning' the other one for now." Cameron said. "She was able to take over the radio traffic."

Anna checked their location against the time.

"Our distraction should be coming up soon." Anna said.

Cameron was positive that every head would turn in the direction she wanted it to.

"Cammy will not fail us." Cameron said.

Anna felt that this was an opportunity to bring up a grievance of Young Allison's about Cameron's treatment of Cammy along with CamNet.

"You and CamNet haven't treated Cammy very nice at times." Anna said. "Young Allison is aware of what you've done. She was very disappointed at the pettiness. She didn't think it was fair to Savannah either the way it was done. Don't think others don't know what you do. She almost stopped you."

Cameron didn't like being 'called out' about her past actions related to Cammy. She still felt justified with what she'd done and for the reasons that she's done it.

"We're going to fight over Savannah." Cameron said. "Cammy doesn't want to yield. It was a necessary action to remind Cammy of her place. She's NOT part of the 'Natural Order'."

Anna wanted to point out that there were a few other factors involved. Savannah's feelings were one of them.

"They love each other." Anna said. "It was what you wanted for them."

Cameron wanted to do something to address Savannah's loneliness and sexual frustration. A clone of herself seemed like the best option at the time. It was something that she thought that she would have better control over. She was wrong. It was actually something that she had less control over.

"It was what I wanted for Savannah." Cameron said. "She was very lonely. I wanted her to feel and share as much love as she could. I want her to be happy."

Anna knew how popular Savannah was now. She knew that soon enough Young Allison would be very popular too.

"Savannah is the most desired person, after you." Anna said.

Cameron was aware there were many inquiries as to Anna's 'availability'.

"You are highly sought as well." Cameron said.

Anna pointed out the obvious reason.

"I'm her AND you." Anna said.

Cameron looked at Anna for a moment and realized that the same thing was going to happen between Anna and Young Allison as it did between Cammy and Savannah. She wanted to nip that in the bud before it got started.

"You can't have Young Allison." Cameron said. "She belongs to John and Savannah."

Anna knew when to hold her tongue. She would let Young Allison make that determination herself. She knew that Savannah would back up Young Allison's decision one way or the other. She decided to take the high road now and say what Cameron wanted to hear instead.

"When Young Allison returns from the past, I'll become Summer's 'guardian'." Anna said.

Cameron wanted to make sure Anna carried out her plans for Summer going forward as she got older.

"You know the 'course' I've selected for Summer." Cameron said.

Anna didn't think Cameron should plan everyone's sexual future for them.

"Sarah and Kyle may not agree to your 'direction' for Jan and Summer." Anna said.

Cameron was pretty sure that things would work out the way that she wanted them to. The nightly 'conditioning' would help cement those ideas in Summer's mind. It was a little harder for her to get to Jan inside Sarah's quarters at night. She made sure that CamNet provided both girls with plenty of subliminal images whenever they used a computer that would guide their interest and hopefully desire.

"Regardless, they will become the best of 'friends'." Cameron said. "Nature, curiosity and desire will guide them as they mature. You will protect both of them and facilitate them."

Anna didn't want to get into this with Cameron right now. The 'Savannah' in her didn't agree with all of Cameron's actions, especially on a personal level and the choices she made for all the others.

"Twenty seconds until our diversion." Anna said.

Cameron tilted her head slightly.

"I can hear it." Cameron said. "Let's move."

It was time to go.

Young Allison listened and watched everything unfold.

Allison was at her side.

"This is like some creepy for real video game." Allison said.

Young Allison wanted to have as much simulation in 'real time' as possible along with the live footage.

"I've asked CamNet to do this for me." Young Allison said.

They could see where the team members were, there was video feed from body cams, there was sound. There was shooting and screams.

"I have less information about Cameron and Savannah." Young Allison said. "They need a lot more people."

Allison thought once the old newspaper factory was taken down that more Terminators could go to where Cameron was to assist her.

"They can always wait." Allison said.

Experience taught Young Allison otherwise. This was all happening now.

"That's the fourth facility going down in a few hours." Young Allison said. "They're out of time. Cameron's target will be alerted one way or another soon. She needs to act as soon as possible to the old newspaper plant being taken down."

Allison checked where Cameron's current position was now.

"Cameron is near the steel mill grounds" Allison said. "She's on her own with only Anna."

Young Allison knew it was normally Savannah. It actually bothered her almost as much. She felt a lot of guilt that Anna was there now because of her.

The battle in the old newspaper plant raged on.

Young Allison wanted to split the duty with Allison for monitoring each of the two locations.

"I'll watch Cameron and Anna." Young Allison said. "You watch the newspaper plant. If anything seems off or missed, tell me, and CamNet will take appropriate action."

Young Allison knew she 'saw' things differently than John or John Henry did. It added a fresh perspective to the operations she sat in on. She tried to make that all of them and worked in her studies and training around them. It was a tight schedule at times, especially lately. The only victim of all the increased activity seemed to be her sleep.

Cam heard something behind her. She turned as her Taser searched for a target.

Sheila was a little surprised.

"Relax, love." Sheila said.

Sheila handed Cam an M4, a vest and a satchel of extra magazines. It contained two Thermite grenades and a 'sticky shocker'.

Cam pointed at the Terminator with the M249.

"Go after that Terminator." Cam said. "I'm going after the HK Tread."

Sheila and Cam both went after their respective targets.

Dan's team breached the old office area when the first shots were heard. There were a series of bunks set up with dividers and a crude kitchen area in the old break room.

There were half a dozen men there. They died where they stood as the suppressed rounds tore into them.

"Frank, you stay here and double check everything." Dan said. "The rest of you follow me.

Dan's team entered the workroom floor and joined the fight.

The Resistance Terminators brought the fight to the Grays from all directions.

No one knew what direction the battle would turn or how big it would get before it was done. It didn't matter, there was a job to do and the Resistance Terminators were there to do it.

Out Of Time

With every step forward
We move further along
It still remains to be seen
If we know where we belong

Whatever direction we're headed
Isn't necessarily correct
Do we move closer or further away
From those we wish to protect

Will the journey be fast
Or will the journey be slow
As to the answer
We may never know

One thing is for sure
The clock keeps on ticking
It seems speeding through life
We get an endless licking

So continue the climb
For it's not a crime
To take advantage of one's prime
Sooner rather than later we're out of time

Nobody