Chapter 990

Experienced Leader

CamNet worked with John Henry to get things lined up and into play at the port location. That was the current target. The events of earlier tonight should be behind them. It soon appeared they were not.

John Henry picked up a hit on some of the surveillance equipment they'd left at the old supermarket. He wasn't pleased to see this new development. They'd just finished policing the target area and sanitizing everything. They expected a hit but they didn't expect it this soon. That was bound to spell more trouble.

"John, I've picked up activity at the old supermarket." John Henry said.

John was very surprised to hear that revelation. He didn't think anything would happen there until at least tomorrow.

"What?" John asked. "Already? We just left there not too long ago. What's there now? Is our team clear?"

John was ready to see what unfolded at the port location. The cryogenics lab and old supermarket should be old news at this point. He wondered if more of the homeless people showed up. That proved not to be the case.

John Henry was very displeased at what the hit was.

"There's a black sedan." John Henry said. "The team is away but still in the area."

That reeked of the Syndicate to John and the thugs that went along with that.

"Do you think this is the Syndicate?" John asked.

John Henry didn't know for sure. It was too early to make that determination. So far the sedans they dealt with in the last few days all turned out to be Syndicate related.

"Apparently…." John Henry said. "We don't know for sure."

John figured this spelled trouble for the girls at the port. The structure there was their next target. He knew that the brown sedan had followed the truck to the port area. More than likely the black sedan and the brown sedan were associated with each other. Both of them indicated trouble they didn't need, especially right now.

"Alert the girls at the port." John said. "There may be more thugs arriving there as well."

John Henry picked up more disturbing news. He picked up a second hit at another location. It looked like things just took a turn for the worse.

"There's a black sedan at the cryogenics lab now as well." John Henry said.

John was very displeased about this. He was afraid the police would get involved in this at some point with the Syndicate lurking around. He was sure there were dirty cops on the payroll of the Syndicate. There were in every location or area the Syndicate operated. It didn't matter the country or the time period. Maybe they would make sure the cops stayed away.

"I don't want the police to get involved in this." John said. "They may end up in a gun battle if they do."

John Henry prepared to send any nearby police units away from where their teams were as well as where the Syndicate was now spotted. He would need to report an 'active shooter' at a mall across town or a hostage situation involving children. There might be a lot of 'officer needs assistance' calls as well. That was the most rapid way to draw off a police unit.

"I can direct the police away from any operation." John Henry said. "I can control 911 and their dispatch center."

Now John was really worried about what was going on around the port facility. He felt his teams were about to face a two pronged danger. They currently held the advantage with their drone support.

"Have the drones picked up anything around the girls at the port?" John asked.

John Henry hadn't picked up anything out of the ordinary. That didn't mean it wasn't happening. It just meant he had detected it.

"Not yet." John Henry said.

It really seemed the Syndicate wanted its money back. They'd better start looking harder for any impending threats.

John didn't want to take any unnecessary chances. He didn't think that the operation at the port was going to be a big affair. He thought it would be a simple in and out for the Metal girls. Now it looked like they were in the middle of something much bigger.

"Expand the search parameters." John said. "There must be more going on than we know about. We may have actually walked into the middle of something that was already planned. Whoever those sedans belong to already knew about the three locations. They may have something planned as far as we know. I'm sure it won't be anything good and I don't want to get caught in the middle of it."

John Henry agreed with that assessment. That still left a problem for him to deal with.

"What do you want to do about the Syndicate vehicles at the old supermarket and cryogenics lab?" John Henry asked.

John didn't think there was anything left to find at either of those two locations. They'd sent a crew to remove all the bodies. All anyone would find were two empty buildings.

"Nothing." John said. "They won't find anything at either one."

John Henry didn't think that decision was going to sit well with everyone. The fact that the Syndicate thugs were there was a problem in itself. To let them leave unscathed meant that they would most likely need to face them another day at an unknown time and location.

Anna and Young Allison monitored everything from the Young bunker. The recent turn of events wasn't lost on them. It wasn't going to go over very well either.

Young Allison picked up on the 'new' threat right away. She determined it was the Syndicate. She wanted to enact her plan to put the Syndicate on the defensive. She still needed to speak to Savannah and Cameron. They were both tied up right now.

Young Allison informed CamNet what she wanted to do about the latest threat.

Anna could tell that Young Allison decided to take pre-emptive action.

"I see you've requested more drones." Anna said.

Young Allison felt the Syndicate was a threat to their teams. Even if it wasn't a problem this minute, it was going to be sooner or later.

"We have new targets." Young Allison said. "I want to make sure I can engage them if I need to."

Anna could see that Young Allison was itching for a fight with the Syndicate. Right now the Grays would take the blame and if her plans were enacted. The Cartels would need to take the rap as well.

"Are you going after the Syndicate yourself?" Anna asked.

Young Allison felt there was a threat to the team. It was identified. Because it was a known and identified threat, it should be dealt with accordingly.

"Those 'soldiers' pose a threat to Cameron and Savannah." Young Allison said. "As long as they exist, they're a threat to everyone."

It was clear Young Allison wasn't going to back down.

Anna wanted to see how far Young Allison was willing to go. She was pretty sure it was going to be all the way.

"Will you do a drone strike in the city?" Anna asked.

That was something Young Allison was prepared to do. She felt if the team was in danger and that danger could be eliminated without too much collateral damage, it should be dealt with. She'd already thought of ways to deflect the blame for her actions.

"YES. I will if it's necessary to protect our people." Young Allison said. "CamNet can spin it as a terrorist attack if necessary."

Anna didn't think John or John Henry should be left out of the loop on a decision this bold. It appeared that Young Allison was going to go around the Command Center completely.

"You're bypassing John and John Henry. Is that the best choice?" Anna asked.

Young Allison didn't want the Syndicate thugs to go to the port. The threat to Cameron's teams there was already bad enough. They needed to deal with the Skynet forces that were already there. They wanted to try to rescue the girl if it was possible. Young Allison didn't want it to seem that she was going around the Command Center even if that's what she was doing. She believed that the ends justified the means.

"I'm assisting them." Young Allison said. "They just don't know it yet. I want to try to lead the Syndicate thugs away from there. I want to lure them away from those two locations and get them into a better kill zone. They will be headed straight to the port once they think everyone has cleared out."

Anna felt that was a sound assessment. She still wanted John Henry in on the loop. It would certainly cause him less stress if he knew what was going to happen when it started to happen. Even if John Henry didn't have any control over it, he would know what it was.

"That's a fair assumption." Anna said. "Maybe I should relay that to John Henry."

Young Allison wanted to try to take care of this threat on her own. None of their troops would be in direct contact with the Syndicate thugs at this point. She wanted to keep it that way. She didn't want to drag Anna into it earlier but she knew that she could use her help and assistance.

"I want to see if we can handle it on our own." Young Allison said. "I'd like for you and CamNet to assist me."

Anna thought Young Allison may be about to overreach her role. They were low on ground troops at this point. There weren't really any extra troops to spare.

"We're short on Terminators." Anna said.

Young Allison wanted to go directly to CamNet and use Cameron's Terminators. She didn't want to strip any help away from the Resistance.

"I don't want to have to pull Bob and Jim out again." Young Allison said. "CamNet will need to assist us."

Anna was pretty sure what force Young Allison wanted to use at this particular point in time.

"The team that collected the bodies isn't too far from there." Anna said. "They only left a short time ago."

Young Allison tracked them on the satellite overlay map. That's what she hoped to use for bait. She knew it was a risk to Cameron's Terminators but she felt the risk was manageable. As long as things went according to the plan, they shouldn't be in too much danger. She was well aware that plans didn't always work out as planned. She thought she had a good plan with the limited resources available to her and a way to make it all work.

"I think we can have Cameron's Terminators 'spotted' once the Syndicate crew sees both locations are empty." Young Allison said. "Here's the plan…."

Anna listened to the plan in detail. She verified everything herself as Young Allison described it to her. It seemed like it should work as planned. Now they would have to wait to see what variables reared their head that altered anything.

Savannah felt they faced a lot of uncertainty at the port location. There were already a lot of unknowns going in and it appeared that more unknowns were in the works. She wanted to review everything with Cameron before they committed themselves.

"We don't know if we will run into Terminators or HK equipment." Savannah said.

Cameron wanted to do a recon of the inside of the location. She still believed that was the best course of action even if it was the most risky for her. It would allow them to know exactly what they would face inside once an attack was launched.

"Let me go in alone and see if I can get the girl out and determine the threat level." Cameron said.

Savannah was prepared to take drastic action to prevent Cameron from acting on her own. She wasn't going to allow that to happen. She wanted to make that clear to Cameron and everyone else. Their team would advance on its own. The other teams could stand ready to reinforce them as necessary.

"No." Savannah said. "You're not going in alone. Have the other teams stand down but still be ready to support us."

Cameron tilted her head slightly.

"What do you mean stand down?" Cameron asked. "I haven't ordered the assault yet."

Savannah felt it should be obvious to Cameron. She decided to spell it out clearly.

"Cam and Cammy are team leaders. They run your base program. They think like you do. They're planning what you're planning." Savannah said. "We also need to worry about the report of the Syndicate sending more thugs."

Cameron wanted that threat ended. She decided to inform John.

"John, I think we need to take the brown sedan out of the picture." Cameron said. "We don't need any trouble behind our backs."

John was in agreement with Cameron's decision. He'd hoped that the brown sedan would lead them to whatever location it originated from. At this point in time it presented a bigger threat by being where it was.

"OK." John responded. "There are too many variables. One less will be a good thing."

John Henry was a little surprised to see that the action was already underway.

"A team of Terminators is moving in." John Henry said.

Cameron just expressed her concern less than twenty seconds ago.

"That was quick." Savannah said.

Savannah knew they already must have been in play before Cameron called John.

Cameron shrugged her shoulders slightly.

"I don't like loose ends." Cameron said.

Cameron could see that Savannah wondered about it.

She knew CamNet acted to remove the threat soon after the black sedans were reported at the other two locations. She didn't know for certain but she was pretty sure that there was another influence that initiated the removal of the brown sedan threat.

Cameron would deal with that later. The Syndicate was now more than just an irritant to her. It was a target. She planned to deal with it forcefully. She needed to get Cam and Cammy on board with her plan here. She really wanted to 'save' that girl and terminate every Gray there.

It briefly crossed her mind that there were other threats that may show themselves before the night was done. She needed to keep in mind that were other groups of different Skynet operatives, the Fanatics and the anti-Metal faction to worry about.

Anna started to get feedback from CamNet on Young Allison's plan. It was already being implemented.

"CamNet has directed the two Terminators that shadowed the brown sedan to take it down." Anna said.

Young Allison also monitored John's response.

"I see John wasn't too far behind this time." Young Allison said.

Anna wanted to remind Young Allison of a few things.

"He's an experienced leader." Anna said. "Don't ever sell him short. Remember you're to assist him."

Young Allison understood the message for what it was. It was time to be a team player. There was a command structure she needed to follow. She didn't want to overstep her bounds and take things too far on her own.

"You're right." Young Allison said. "Have CamNet put everyone in the loop as 'CamNet assisting'."

Young Allison decided to remain in the shadows. She was about to make some bold moves with the assistance of CamNet. She felt that they were all necessary actions that needed to be taken. She wasn't sure how John and John Henry would feel about her making those decisions. If it appeared CamNet was behind them, no one was going to argue or question them.

John Henry received a full update from CamNet. It was apparent that there were quite a few things already in motion.

"I have a troubling report from CamNet." John Henry said.

John wondered what else could go wrong at this point.

"Now what?" John asked.

John Henry considered it a plausible threat.

"The Syndicate crews will probably head to the port once they find the Grays have 'cleared out'." John Henry said. "They will most likely assume that is where they headed since they know the truck was tracked to that area. They know that the port facility is an active target."

John wasn't sure about that but it was something to consider.

"That's a possibility." John said.

CamNet continued to fill John Henry in with what was planned and in the works already.

"CamNet has a plan." John Henry said.

John wasn't that surprised at the revelation.

"Does SHE now?" John asked.

John Henry picked up on John's inference. He decided not to engage it unless John pushed the issue. He was pretty sure where most of what he heard originated from. He didn't see anything wrong with what was planned. He actually thought it was all a good idea.

"Yes." John Henry said. "It seems workable."

John Henry filled John in on the details of what could be done to eliminate the current threat and help keep the girls safe. He filled Cameron and her teams in as well.

This would be a joint effort.

John was a little skeptical at first but once he heard the plan and its entirety he really liked the plan. He thought that everything was well thought out and it made maximum use of their limited resources.

He was sure that Young Allison was a big influence on whatever CamNet proposed. He really wondered what all was going on inside of Young Allison's head for her to come up with all of these ideas continuously. He really wondered what Cameron had 'done' to her. Cameron always maintained she allowed the girls to find the greatness within themselves and that she hadn't done anything to them 'yet'. It was always the 'yet' part that bothered him. What did that mean?

Savannah and Cameron went over the new plan once John Henry relayed it to them.

"That's a bold move." Savannah said. "It will help keep our people a little out of harm's way, at first."

Cameron thought so too. She still wanted the girl out.

"We need to get the girl out." Cameron said.

Savannah felt the girl's father deserved saving too if he was being 'forced' to do Skynet's bidding.

"And her father as well. My parents weren't as lucky to just be 'used'." Savannah said. "Let's go."

Cameron was troubled by what Savannah just said about her parents. She led Savannah and Gail toward the structure. They needed to breach the outer fence first. There were several choices available to them. They could go over the fence itself or there was a gate over the railroad tracks and a rear gate for truck traffic. Either one of those gates could be forced open. It was decided they would go over the fence behind the cover of some of the containers that were stacked. Cameron went over first. Savannah went over next and Gail followed. They were inside the compound. So far no alarm had been raised.

She decided not to have the power cut yet. She didn't want to alert the Grays inside the building that anything was about to happen. Power and communications were both ready to be severed in an instant.

The trio checked the drone information and there were still no patrols out. Whatever the Grays were doing was now routine to them. They didn't feel any threats and were careless. They must not know the Syndicate was on to them either. Her observation was that the Syndicate surveilled them with great care and sophistication. They tagged the truck and they also followed it from a discrete distance so that they had people on the ground that could be there within minutes.

Cameron moved along the rail siding and approached the large double doors that closed over the tracks leading into the building. She hoped for a gap between or around the doors but none was visible. Even the tracks at ground level were flush with the cement. There was only a small gap for the flange of the wheels of the railcars between the inside of each rail and the cement between them.

Savannah looked at the small gap. It wasn't big enough for her phone to fit. She looked down at the front of her vest. She took off her body cam. It appeared it was small enough to fit.

"Put this in the flangeway between the rails and the cement and see if it can pick anything up inside." Savannah said. "That's the only gap I see here."

Gail kept a watch behind them as Cameron tried to position the body cam for a look inside.

Savannah saw Cameron check her phone for an image.

Cameron showed her the image. The tracks inside the building appeared to be empty. There was a large open area inside the building without any boxcars there. That was about all they could see. The tops of the rails looked rusty too. That indicated that there hadn't been any recent rail traffic.

"There could still be HK equipment inside." Savannah said.

Cameron was aware of that. That was something they would need to deal with once they entered the building. She wanted a better look around before they went in.

"Let's move to the side where the truck is parked." Cameron said.

They were about to pass by some containers. There was a familiar look to them.

"Are these the same type of containers that were at the old steel mill?" Savannah asked as they neared several of them.

"Yes." Cameron said. "Let's take a look."

Savannah reached out her hand and stopped Cameron.

"They may be wired." Savannah said.

Gail spotted another possible problem. She pointed in the direction of the roof of the building.

"What about that security camera?" Gail said. "It was pointed away before. It is now turning in this direction."

Cameron quickly looked around her. She wanted to make sure that they stayed undetected.

"Quick, in here." Cameron said.

Cameron led the girls in between two of the containers. It was a very narrow gap.

Gail felt she was being 'compressed' a little more than normal.

"This is a tight fit." Gail said.

Savannah glanced over in the confines of the tight space. She could see what Gail referred to.

"That is because you're 'stacked'." Savannah said with a smile.

Gail tilted her head slightly as she referenced what Savannah said.

"Yes, I am." Gail said with a returned smile. "You could say I'm 'built'."

Savannah smiled at Gail. She was glad that she was able to make the reference and turn it into a joke as well.

Cameron contacted John Henry to see if he was in control of the security system. That was supposed to have happened before they entered the property.

John Henry looked over at John when Cameron contacted him. He understood why they were concerned.

"Yes." John Henry said. "John wanted to watch you advance. I should have warned you. That was us. I'm sorry for the confusion."

Cameron felt that was an unnecessary risk. If the Skynet forces were to regain control of their security system, they would be spotted instantly.

"The drone footage should be enough for that." Cameron said. "How's everything else around us?"

John Henry quickly checked everything again. He didn't detect any changes.

"Everything is unchanged since you started your advance." John Henry said.

Cameron's team moved out from between the containers. Savannah and Gail kept watch as Cameron opened one.

"It is empty." Cameron said.

Cameron checked a few other ones. They were all empty.

They would have to come back later and check the ones that were stacked on top of the ones at ground level. They all appeared to be secured with the normal latching system. None of them were locked in any fashion. It didn't appear there was anything of value in them if there was anything in them at all.

Savannah looked at the containers and around the side of the compound that you could see from their position. She thought of a few possibilities.

"I think some of the orbiting drones should have targeting information set up on these containers in case there are any surprises in the stacked containers on top." Savannah said. "We have no way to check them right now."

Savannah didn't know if there were any HK drones staged there ready to launch and engage them.

They moved to where they could see the refrigerator truck backed up to the dock.

"That's different." Savannah said.

I'm Sorry I Doubted You

Like a hatchet in my back
They watch me with distrust
To endless prove myself
Is an annoying must

I have things to do
That are seen as dubious
They can't understand
Their views are erroneous

I want to follow my heart
I have my previous directive
It may seem as an affront
That I remain so protective

There are good lies
There are lies of omission
Some things are best left unsaid
None are meant with contrition

In the end what matters most
My honor and truth construe
To hear them say with meaning
I'm sorry I doubted YOU

Nobody