Chapter 817

We're Off

Sheila took two trackers and headed out with them. There were no cars that passed by on the side street. The Grays were all back inside the building. She approached the vehicles as if she was walking down the street. She was able to place trackers on both vehicles and then slip around to the back. There were no apparent alarms raised. It looked like a clean plant. Anna was there waiting for her in the back.

Anna was in an alley type driveway. She was behind the building next to the one they were watching. There were no vehicles in the alley. It was clear. She didn't spot any surveillance equipment in the back. There was a single door with no windows present. She looked back from the direction she'd entered and Sheila ran to join her, she was there in seconds.

Sheila took one look in back of her and she joined Anna. There was no one in pursuit of her so she figured she got away clean.

"We're in position in the back." Sheila said. "Everything looked like it went smoothly."

John wanted to keep track where each of the four teams was at.

"Everyone is set." John said. "If one vehicle leaves before the other, Cammy's team and Hanna's team will follow them. They can leapfrog until Cameron's team and Sheila's team can join them."

Savannah knew that they were going to take down the building if only one vehicle remained. They didn't know what they would find inside when that occurred.

"Unless there is some intel to gather." Savannah said. "Wait, they are back outside. They're loading one vehicle now."

Cameron zoomed in her vision to take a look at exactly what the Gray's carried with them.

"I see firearms." Cameron said. "There's computer gear as well."

Savannah was pleased to see that the Grays concentrated on one vehicle.

"They're loading one vehicle first." Savannah said. "Maybe it will leave before the other one."

John Henry wanted everyone to use caution. He knew if they could see the other group that if there was a Terminator with them, they could be spotted as well.

"Does anyone spot a Terminator?" John Henry asked. "There must be some associated with this group. Keep a lookout for one."

Cameron was aware of the risk and kept watch.

"None has been spotted yet." Cameron said.

Savannah could tell that the men weren't happy with each other. It appeared there was going to be some type of trouble.

"I can see they're having an argument of some kind." Savannah said. "Can anyone hear what it is?"

Cameron was worried the other group might have a Terminator with them. They hadn't moved in close enough to be within hearing range for anyone.

"We're too far away." Cameron said. "Two more people walked out. They're moving some of the weapons into the second vehicle from out of the first one."

Savannah could see that one of the individuals seemed to be more agitated than the others.

"The man who was complaining slammed the rear door shut so no more items could be removed from his vehicle." Savannah said. "These people seem to be very upset with each other."

John Henry was aware of this type of behavior from some of the other Skynet operatives that they dealt with. When things went bad some of them wanted to run. Others wanted to look for their friends. Grays weren't known for loyalty. What kept the Grays in line and most of them from running once they returned to the past was the fear of what would happen to them if they ran. There was always a Terminator associated with each group. They knew that Terminator would hunt them down no matter how long it took and then terminate them.

"I suspect some of them want to look for their associates and the others want to move on without them." John Henry said.

Cameron saw that one vehicle was about to drive off. There was evidently some very strong discord among the two groups of individuals there.

"Three people are getting in the vehicle of the complaining man. It's about to drive off." Cameron said. "The man that was loading the other car kicked the other vehicle in the side as it drove off."

Savannah watched the direction that the vehicle turned. It looked like Cammy's team would be the first one to be passed.

"It's headed for Cammy." Savannah said. "Hanna, take the side street and follow Cammy."

Hanna was already on the move.

"We're off." Hanna said.

It looked like the Grays were at odds with each other over some issue. Maybe it was all the same group, maybe it was two different groups of Grays trying to work together. It was clear they seemed to have issues with each other and no one appeared to be pleased with what transpired.

From the rear of the building, Anna and Sheila could hear raised voices and knew there was additional arguing going on.

Anna wasn't normally out on operations. She felt the location they currently were at was very exposed. She wanted to point that out to Sheila.

"If a vehicle pulls in this alley we don't have a lot of options." Anna said. "There aren't even any trash cans to hide behind."

Sheila was aware of other techniques that could be employed when there were two of them if their position was suddenly discovered. It was guaranteed to throw off whoever found them when they saw what they were doing.

"We can always act like lovers and start kissing." Sheila said. "I think that will throw them off guard for a few seconds. Just lift my top up and that's the only spot that they'll look at. Then again, if you lift your top up with your current appearance, I bet that's going to draw just as many looks too."

Anna remembered how the store clerk looked at her and Hanna. He did seem to spend a lot of time trying to compare them side by side, especially after Hanna made it an issue. She didn't like the looks that Young Allison and Summer drew when they were out in public. Holly and Hanna were aware of that and both of them always showed a lot more skin and as much cleavage as possible to keep the eyes focused on them. It was the same reason Cameron always wore such a skimpy bikini whenever they went to the pool. She looked naked and that kept all the eyes on her and off of the girls.

"OK." Anna said. "It will draw them in closer for termination."

Now that Sheila said that, she hoped a vehicle did approach. She wouldn't mind kissing Anna. She planned to touch as much of her sheath that she could as well. She figured if they were going to play lovers, she might as well make it as convincing as possible.

John wanted to confer with John Henry. They cut their com link. He was more than a little confused with the direction the current events seemed to take. There were a lot more questions now than there were before they viewed the Grays.

"They still don't know how many Grays are inside." John said. "There could be a Terminator too. The discord among the group bothers me."

John Henry knew what Cameron wanted to do.

"Cameron wants to hit the building." John Henry said. "We don't know what the Grays are upset about. I think the issue about their comrades is a good indicator."

John was more than a little worried about where things may head. He decided to risk daylight drone operations again. He knew it was going to take a little time for them to get there but he figured late was better than not at all. He was sure that there was going to be more trouble among the Grays.

"I want some of the drones in the outlying areas up and at altitude over Cammy and Hanna." John said. "I know it will take longer for them to arrive. I don't want them observed in the daytime."

John Henry went to dispatch two drones and was surprised to find that actually already occurred.

"There are two already in route." John Henry said. "They're at high altitude already."

John was as surprised as John Henry had been.

"I take it that CamNet is on the operation as well?" John asked.

"Yes. I was just notified when you said that." John Henry said. "As soon as Savannah came up with her plan they were launched."

John was unaware of any communications in regards to drones being sent by anyone.

"Did Savannah ask for them?" John asked.

John Henry was often kept in the dark about Cameron's clandestine activities. Some of that secrecy overflowed into Resistance operations as well.

"I never heard that transmission." John Henry said. "Cameron and Savannah often deal with CamNet on their own."

John didn't care for the 'cloak and dagger' routine. He re-established his com link. He wanted to see what Cameron knew about the drones.

"Cameron do you want drone support?" John asked.

Cameron was only notified a short time ago that she would receive drone support.

"I have some." Cameron said. "I was just informed. I want them to go with Cammy and Hanna."

John Henry was now able to track the drones. Previously they'd been kept from him by CamNet. He noted that the two drones split up. They were no longer headed to the same location.

"I'm tracking one still headed for your position." John Henry said. "Only one is going to go to Cammy and Hanna."

Savannah received information even as John Henry spoke.

"CamNet wants us to have fire support." Savannah said. "We were just informed."

John wanted to confer with John Henry. They cut their com link again. He wasn't sure if he liked CamNet taking a more assertive role in their operations. It was unclear if this was Cameron's doing. It didn't seem like it. It appeared Cameron only found out about the drones either at the same time that he had or just before.

"How often does CamNet operate on its own?" John asked.

John Henry knew that CamNet usually didn't become directly involved in an operation. He was sure that there was a lot more clandestine activity that occurred that was kept from the Command Center. He wanted John to know that it wasn't necessarily a bad thing if CamNet backed up one of their operations even from the shadows.

"CamNet sent the manned drone for Savannah at Serrano Point, probably saving her life." John Henry said. "You know Savannah stayed behind so Cameron could be removed from the danger area. If CamNet didn't act as she had, Savannah most likely would have traded her life for Cameron's life."

John understood that to mean that Savannah had a personal protector. Upon reflection of some past events, he didn't think that that was a bad thing.

"OK, so CamNet is watching out for Savannah." John said. "That's a good thing. CamNet seems to be willing to do what Cameron is reluctant to do."

John Henry didn't want to mention that Young Allison appeared to have great influence over CamNet as well. He knew she'd requested CamNet help Savannah several times. He knew the rescue at Serrano Point was because of Young Allison's influence. He was willing to bet the two drones coming to help now were too. Especially since one was still headed for Cameron and Savannah, even after Cameron said she wanted both of them for Cammy's team and Hanna's team. He was aware CamNet would follow the advice of the 'Chosen Ones' over Cameron's advice. That also included John and him as well.

He was sure that Young Allison could have CamNet change the direction of how an operation developed from the sidelines. So far everything that was done seemed to be beneficial to the various operations. He didn't know how extensive of an influence that Young Allison had become to CamNet and the Resistance operations.

"Yes." John Henry said. "It seems Savannah has a Guardian Angel."

John Henry was aware that Savannah seemed to have more than one….

John re-established his com link. He wanted to know what Cameron was up to. He doubted she was going to wait long before she took action. He just hoped that she tried to gather some more intel before she did.

"Cameron, when are you going to move in?" John asked.

Cameron based her attack time on distance.

"As soon as the other vehicle is two miles away we will." Cameron said. "They shouldn't hear any gunfire at that distance and return to investigate or counterattack."

John quickly looked at John Henry. He figured the other vehicle must be near that distance now.

"John Henry, how far out are they?" John asked.

John Henry was able to follow the tracker that Sheila placed on the vehicle.

"They are a mile and a half away at this point." John Henry said.

It was clear the clock was running and things were about to happen. When they did, they would go hot fast.

CamNet kept Cameron informed as to where the vehicle that left was at. Cameron went over her plans with Savannah, Sheila and Anna. She wanted a clean, smooth entry and take down of the place.

"We move in one minute." Cameron said. "I'm going in the front door and Sheila and Anna will breach the back door at the same time."

Savannah wanted this as a clean operation with terminations instead of interrogations. She didn't think they would have any more information to offer. They could leave sooner to back up Cammy's team and Hanna's team. Wherever they were headed, there was another target and the full team should be there when it was assaulted. She wanted to make sure that everyone understood what her position would be on the take down.

"Everyone shoots first until all the targets are neutralized." Savannah said. "We don't risk anything. These people all arrived at the same time. They can't tell us anymore than we know."

All of the girls carried a suppressed M4. That was now standard issue for all the Resistance troops. The report on the firearm was drastically diminished but could still be heard because of the supersonic ammunition that was used. All pistols were also issued a silencer and subsonic ammunition. With the use of a silencer and subsonic ammunition, the report of the pistol could be nearly eliminated. The M9 became the pistol of choice used with a silencer because the barrel extended beyond the front of the slide and a threaded barrel was easy to put in place without any other modifications to the firearm. Most left the silencer off to give better handling to the pistol. If they needed it, they could put it on in seconds.

Cameron and Savannah moved in from the west side of the building along the front. The windows on that side were 'papered over' from the inside. It was a crude attempt to block anyone from seeing inside easily. It also prevented the occupants from seeing out.

With the assault on the building about to go down, Sheila and Anna decided to move closer. Sheila led Anna along in the back. There was a large roll up door and a regular door. It was a metal door with only a lock and deadbolt. It could also be secured with a 'barricade bar' or two across its width. There were no cameras present so they moved right up to the door to listen.

They could hear arguing inside.

Cameron and Savannah could hear the arguing as well.

This was good for them. The Grays would be distracted.

It seemed whatever issues the first group experienced; the group that remained experienced them as well. Problems of this type were encountered before but usually only involved one or two individuals out of an entire group. This group seems very divided about whatever their goals were and what they wanted to do going forward. It really didn't matter at this point because their troubles would soon be over forever.

John Henry was very pleased when their drone arrived over the vehicle that was being tracked. Cammy and Hanna tailed the vehicle even though it had a tracker on it. The main reason for that was to check to see if anyone got out of the vehicle at any point. It was a strong possibility given the nature of the group that they currently followed.

"Hanna and Cammy, you now have drone support." John Henry said. "You can fallback or take divergent routes. The drone has the Gray vehicle 'locked up'."

Cammy was very displeased following the target vehicle. She appreciated the arrival of the drone.

"That's good to know." Cammy said. "Their driving behavior was somewhat erratic anyway."

John Henry noted the erratic driving behavior.

"I thought that was you taking evasive action." John Henry said. "Were they looking for a tail?"

Cammy wasn't sure what was going on in the vehicle. They may have been looking for a tail. They may have been looking for something else as well.

"I believe so." Hanna said. "We needed to switch positions twice already."

John Henry was a little concerned with the latest revelation. He'd already started a jamming field around the target vehicle.

"They're tagged with the tracker as well." John Henry said. "Don't get target fixation. I'm keeping a blockage of all communications in a mile diameter around them as they drive."

Cammy was still concerned about the occupants of the vehicle.

"Make sure that the video feed stays on their vehicle. If anyone gets out we want to know where and see what they look like." Cammy said. "I want the drone to stay with that person until we can apprehend them."

John was concerned about Cammy's speculation.

"Do you suspect they are about to do this?" John asked.

Cammy wasn't sure what was going on but it seemed that something was to her.

"I don't think they're all 'happy campers'." Cammy said. "From what we saw earlier, this group seems very fractured and non-cooperative with each other."

John was informed by Cameron what the nature of the problem was at the building they were about to take down. It was what was speculated on earlier.

"Cameron and Sheila both reported there is arguing still going on inside at the building where they are." John said. "It's about trying to find their associates and what happened to them."

Cammy previous conferred with Hanna about what course of action they would take if anyone exited the vehicle and the vehicle continued on.

"Keep us posted." Cammy said. "If anyone alights, we're going after them and Hanna will stick with the vehicle."

The current group of Grays that they tracked seemed a little different in their behavior as compared to some of the previous groups that they'd dealt with. That may have been due to their short time back in the past since it was only two weeks. There could be some other issue that they didn't know yet as well.

Cameron heard enough. It was time to act. She was ready to move. The individuals inside were nearly in chaos as they argued.

"I'm ready to enter." Cameron said. "Are you ready in the back?"

Sheila was ready to go. She was much more experienced than Anna in the takedown of a building. She wanted Anna to follow behind her.

"We're ready." Sheila said. "Give us a time and 'mark'."

Cameron looked at Savannah who nodded back at her.

"We will breach in four seconds, Sheila." Cameron said. "Mark."

Cameron waited four seconds and smashed in the front door.

She held her M4 up and searched for a target.

Almost at the same time, there was a loud crash from the back of the structure as Sheila and Anna entered.

There were several suppressed rounds fired by Cameron and Sheila, Savannah and Anna backed them up and covered their flanks. They also made sure no one entered behind them.

Cameron found two men facing each other about ready to fight. They both went down with a single shot each. The heated argument was over…. They'd both lost.

Sheila encountered one man who was disconnecting a computer. He went down with a single round.

Cameron heard Savannah fire off to her left side, she glanced over that way. A Gray tried to emerge from the bathroom. He was now back inside the bathroom, dead.

The girls did a quick sweep of the rooms.

"All targets are down. The area is secure." Cameron said. "There were no survivors."

John Henry now had the drone over their current position. It searched for any threats that might approach the girls in the building.

"The drone coverage shows nothing approaching your position." John Henry said.

Savannah was glad to know that they had the extra support. She quickly looked around the interior of the building.

"They'd packed this place up and were ready to pull out." Savannah said. "They seemed to know they were compromised, even if they couldn't communicate with anyone."

Cameron looked at the computer gear. Everything was basic and simple.

"This is nothing." Cameron said. "John Henry kept them blocked."

Savannah checked the man she'd shot. She looked for his phone and anything else of intel value. The Metal girls did the same on the other three. She was a little surprised to see that there were images of nude females on the man's phone. It made her wonder exactly what the man was doing in the bathroom before they'd entered the building.

Anna searched the interior of the building

"There are only sleeping accommodations for six here." Anna said.

Cameron was aware that they saw more than six men already.

"Maybe they 'hot bunked'." Cameron said.

Savannah was sure at this point there was another location that was already established.

"I think there is another location." Savannah said. "Maybe it's where they're headed."

Savannah made it a point to look at the beds. She specifically looked for any ropes or other types of restraints around one of the beds. She didn't spot any. She figured that would probably come later once they were in the past longer. She decided not to comment on it.

John Henry continued to note the irregular driving pattern of the target vehicle as the drone tracked it.

"They're trying to make sure they're not being followed." John Henry said.

Cameron knew that she didn't like surprises. She didn't think the Grays were going to like surprises anymore either.

"I guess they're in for a big surprise then." Cameron said. "I doubt they're going to like it."

Savannah looked over at Cameron when she said that.

You Said It Yourself

What is love
Is it even real
Is it what we think
Or is it what we feel

When two are together
Is love what we take
Can our hearts create
Or is love what we make

We know love exists
Even if it's quite quizzical
Is love more emotional
Than it is physical

When two others are in play
It then becomes a choice
Can you reach beyond the touchable
And hear love's real voice

I was there listening
I heard it from your very self
'Are you kidding'
You said it yourself

Nobody