Chapter 753
Shoot The Horses
Cameron was dissatisfied they were unable to breach the main bunker door. The progress of the attack on the corner of the bunker with the bulldozer worked better than expected. It should only be a few more impacts before the bunker corner gave way and they would have a way in. Each blow was strategically calculated. It looked like it would be the next impact. She called her troops over to seek cover behind the bulldozer, once an opening was created.
The bulldozer backed up and made its final run. The engine revved as it rumbled and clanked forward. With a loud crash, a big ground shaking jolt, and a shower of concrete dust, the entire corner of the bunker collapsed. There was now an opening. The bunker wall was successfully breached.
As per Savannah's prior suggestion, a missile was to be sent into the opening. The Grays inside would all be expecting a ground assault, they should have their weapons up and ready to engage the force trying to enter.
The bulldozer backed away.
The Resistance Terminators all took cover behind it, as a missile streaked through the night sky and disappeared inside the bunker.
There was a blinding flash, followed by a massive explosion and fireball. The fireball erupted out of the opening.
As the fireball collapsed in on itself, Cameron led the entry team inside the shattered bunker. The Resistance Terminators moved from behind the cover of the bulldozer and followed Cameron in.
Tom was next to Savannah when Cameron moved to enter the hole in the wall. She briefly spoke with him before he followed the rest of the team in.
Savannah and Cammy were the only ones who remained outside. They were to provide rear security and make sure the way out wasn't compromised. They still needed to worry about a breakaway from inside, or an alternate escape route.
A lot of things could happen. They weren't sure what it would be.
Savannah watched it all unfold.
She was glad she asked for the missile strike inside the bunker after an opening was created. She was sure it would prevent some damage to Cameron and the rest of the troops. She then turned her attention to the area around them.
John Henry sent a drone feed to John to watch on his phone. He told him what was going to happen and how a drone would fire a missile a few seconds later.
John watched the footage of what occurred at the bunker. He saw the bulldozer break off the final portion of the corner of the bunker. It backed away. Cameron, and a group of Terminators massed behind it. There was a large explosion from inside the bunker a few seconds later. Even as the fireball was still billowing Cameron rushed forward with the Terminators. They appeared to follow the collapsing fireball inside.
It actually seemed like a good idea to him. The defenders, if there were any, would be waiting to shoot at anyone who entered the opening. With the arrival of the missile, the explosion should catch most of them out in the open and by surprise.
He hoped the explosion would knock out whatever was jamming their system. It would all depend upon where the device was located.
"Are there any communications yet?" John asked.
John Henry monitored all the frequencies. There was no change.
"Not yet." John Henry said.
John wasn't sure how much of their equipment was damaged by the unknown electrical surge. He hoped something would be able to work. If something wasn't turned on when the electrical discharge occurred, it might still work.
He was sure Cameron always carried an extra com because she usually ended up losing one if she got into a fight with another Terminator. They could really knock each other around during a fight. It wasn't something she was designed to do. Terminators were designed to deal with human targets. Humans couldn't put up much of a resistance in an actual confrontation.
"They should be able to knock out the jamming field soon." John said. "I hope they can anyway. We're not going to know what's going on at all now for those inside of the bunker."
John Henry wasn't sure how much good it would do them. There were a lot of negative factors in their way. There were other problems they ran into under normal circumstances. Where they were now was anything but normal.
"The drone providing the footage is off to the side, away from it all." John Henry said. "Remember, much of their communication gear is damaged. The bunker itself will block most of the transmission, even if any of it starts working. They may be underground soon, or even in the hillside. If they have any repeaters which are still working, they might be able to help. It all seems doubtful."
It wasn't what John wanted to hear. He didn't like when Cameron entered the bowels of the earth. Nothing good ever came of it, at least nothing good for Cameron. He wanted to make sure where everyone was at. He heard what the plan was earlier. He wanted to make sure they stuck with it.
"Beautiful." John said. "Only Savannah and Cammy are still outside?"
John Henry was sure Cameron wanted to leave additional assistance with Savannah. It appeared Savannah made sure all of it went with Cameron.
"Yes. They're to keep 'the door' open. They'll watch for anyone who tries to break out, or anyone else who tries to enter." John Henry said. "They have the drones backing them up."
John wanted to know if the situation with Savannah would change.
"I'd like you to monitor Savannah's whereabouts if possible." John said. "I think you understand why."
John Henry did understand. John was worried she would go in after Cameron.
"I'll keep track of what I can." John Henry said. "No one's trackers are working and I will need to do it visually. Based upon the orbit of the drone I don't always have a good visual."
John wondered how effective the drones would be operating under the current conditions.
"Are you controlling all the drones?" John asked.
John Henry didn't think it should be an issue.
"Only the one shooting the video you're seeing, the other two are on autonomous control." John Henry said. "They are there to provide fire support if it becomes necessary. They can act in an instant on autonomous control."
John would have liked for there to have been a little more positive control by John Henry.
"It's not reassuring." John said. "I'd like for you to have better control."
John Henry wasn't sure if John fully understood the meaning of what he said. He may not be in direct control of the other two drones, but he was in control of them along with Cameron, more or less.
"Cameron and I are part of the autonomous control." John Henry said. "We make up their programming. They will do what Cameron or I would do. My part of the programming will handle the strategic planning. Cameron's programming will handle tactical situations as they develop. It's an effective strategy."
John felt he may have touched a 'nerve' with John Henry. What John Henry told him wasn't news to him. He would have just preferred for a little more direct control. He understood the situation didn't warrant it. There was no need to make an issue out of it.
"OK, I get it." John said. "I didn't mean any offense. I know the drones all have programming from Cameron and you. I know I'm normally in the Command Center with you. Often times I can offer a little input. Everything's a little indirect right now because of the circumstances. I know everyone's doing their job, including the drones."
John Henry looked at the monitors. What he saw looked like trouble. Now there seemed to be an additional problem.
"That's not good." John Henry said.
John looked at the image John Henry indicated as well.
From the night vision feed of the drone, he could see a figure firing. They moved around the bulldozer. It must be one of the girls still outside. He couldn't tell which one from the imagery.
"Is it Savannah or Cammy?" John asked.
John Henry was able to determine it was Savannah based on the thermal scan. Her heat signature was rapidly increasing, as did her heartbeat, along with the flow of adrenaline. It was a natural reaction based upon the current circumstances.
"It's Savannah." John Henry said.
John was confused as to what was happening and what they were shooting at. If Savannah was the one who was firing, what happened to Cammy? It was clear something must have gone wrong but as to what it was there was no way for him to tell yet.
"Where's Cammy?" John asked.
There was a blinding flash.
John wondered if it was a malfunction, or an explosion.
"What was that?" John asked.
John Henry wasn't sure what the threat was himself. All he could determine is one of the drones on autonomous control fired one of its missiles. He was unsure what the target was. There wasn't much he could report to John. There is definitely nothing conclusive yet.
"One of the drones fired a missile." John Henry said.
John couldn't tell exactly where the missile hit. It looked like it was where Savannah was at just moments ago. He wanted some clarification as to what he believed he saw.
"Are you telling me a drone fired a missile at Savannah?" John asked.
John Henry didn't know all the details other than what he witnessed from the drone outside of the area. It was very hard to tell what exactly happened. Reviewing the files did nothing to help with a positive answer. All he could do was answer John's question.
"Apparently…." John Henry said.
Earlier:
Young Allison sat silently as she watched the drone feed. There was little detail to it. It was outside the jamming zone.
Anna could tell everything weighed heavily upon Young Allison.
"You're not saying much." Anna said.
Young Allison was very upset about the entire ordeal and their inability to have any type of communication or control. She didn't want to take her feelings out on Anna.
"I'm not saying anything." Young Allison said.
Anna would prefer if Young Allison would take it easy for a while. There was nothing they could do from their position to assist with the operation at the bunker.
"Maybe you should rest." Anna said.
Young Allison looked at Anna with contempt. Her words upset her greatly. There were already enough things to deal with. She certainly didn't need any more. She wondered how she could even say such a thing with everything the way it currently was.
"How can I rest with Cameron and Savannah in a fight for their lives?" Young Allison asked. "I don't think you know how all of this is affecting me."
Anna could see it was affecting Young Allison in a very negative way. She moved over to her and began to scan her. She wanted to reassure her as best as she could under the unfavorable conditions. She wondered if Young Allison knew it all became a test for her as well.
"Some must fight, while others must watch." Anna said.
Young Allison wondered what her statement was exactly supposed to mean. Her options to assist were very limited right now. She was sure she would be judged on how she responded to the current circumstances later on. She didn't like watching while others were fighting.
"It's not the way it would be if I could have my choice." Young Allison said. "I should be there with Savannah. You can come with me, like Cammy is for Savannah. We will make a good team."
Anna removed her hand from Young Allison's neck. He decided not to comment about the last part of her statement. It wasn't going to happen if she could prevent it.
"It's very stressful for you." Anna said.
Young Allison felt more disgusted than anything in her inability to be able to help.
"Maybe I should study." Young Allison said. "It would help me try to take my mind off of it. There is nothing I can do to help them. We can't even give any input since there's no response or feedback. I'm very worried about both of them. I'm worried about all of them."
Anna wanted to give Young Allison some reassuring words.
"You care for both of them deeply." Anna said.
Young Allison abruptly looked over at Anna. It was all a lot deeper to her. It wasn't so much she cared about them, as it was she loved them. It was the agony she felt right now.
"You know it's more than care." Young Allison said.
Anna felt that she possessed some pretty good insight into how all the others felt. It was actually part of her programming.
"I do." Anna said. "I also know it's how they both feel about you. Remember, I'm Cameron's program with Savannah's 'Neural Interface'."
Something caught Young Allison's attention. Her head snapped up. Just when she thought there was going to be a lull in action, fighting broke out. They could see a figure in the night vision of the drone, move around the bulldozer, and shoot at something. She became glued to the monitor as she tried to determine who it was and what they were shooting at. There needed to be a target. The target would clearly be the enemy. It didn't look like a good situation at all.
"What are they shooting at?" Young Allison asked. "Who is it?"
Anna thought she could tell who it was, but it was all she could tell at the current time.
"It's Savannah." Anna said. "I can't tell what she's shooting at."
Young Allison was very upset and angry at herself right now. She was following the operation closely while nothing seemed to happen. Now she let her guard down and lost track of where the only two people outside were, and what they were doing. Now it appeared there was a battle going on.
"Where's Cammy?" Young Allison asked. "They were both there a few minutes ago. I stopped paying close attention, now this is happening."
There was a blinding flash.
"What was that?" Young Allison asked.
Anna could only speculate as to what would cause a flash like that. Without further information or confirmation, there was no way to know for sure what exactly happened.
"One of the drones fired a missile." Anna said.
Young Allison wasn't quite sure what Anna tried to communicate to her. It sounded very bleak and deadly.
"Do you mean to tell me a drone fired a missile at Savannah?" Young Allison asked.
Anna can only go by what she viewed on the monitor. There was no additional information one way or the other. There was only what she could see.
"Apparently…." Anna said.
Moments ago:
Cammy and Savannah were tasked with keeping the 'door open' for the troops to come out of and to make sure no one else entered the bunker. They also needed to keep watch on the bunker door in case the Grays tried to make a break out.
Savannah watched the perimeter with Cammy. They were next to the bulldozer. It provided them with cover if anyone tried to exit the bunker from the opening they created when they breached the bunker earlier.
There was a muffled explosion. It was off to their side. It looked like a new threat just developed.
Savannah looked over at where the bunker door was located.
"The blast was over there." Savannah said. "I think it came from inside."
Cammy made the same determination as well. She saw it as bad news. It was possible it was the breakout they anticipated from the Grays earlier. It was clear she needed to act now to prevent them from ending up in a crossfire from two different sources. She thought about taking action earlier but hadn't. The time for thinking was over. It was now time to act.
"I think they just blew the inner bunker door open." Cammy said as she climbed up on the bulldozer. "I'm going to block the entrance with this thing. If they get out from two different spots we're at a disadvantage."
From her position alongside the bulldozer, Savannah saw a head peek out around the corner of the bunker door.
Cammy fired up the bulldozer.
Two figures emerged from the smashed open bunker door and raised their weapons.
"Grays." Cammy shouted.
Savannah fired half her magazine into them. They both fell. Their bodies were still inside the outer bunker door.
Even over the loud rumble of the running bulldozer, Cammy heard the distinct sound of a minigun fire in a pattern.
Boom - Boom - - - Boom - Boom - Boom
It was from one of the drones. She understood what it meant. It was a warning for her and Savannah.
"Savannah, get back and stay down." Cammy shouted. "I heard a drone fire its minigun as a warning. A missile will arrive in less than two seconds."
Savannah ducked in back of the bulldozer and got down. One second later there was a massive fireball from the bunker entryway.
A burning body staggered out of the opening and fell. It thrashed about, even though it was unable to move from where it fell. There were a series of agonizing screams which emanated from it.
They waited for more figures to emerge. None did. It didn't mean they wouldn't. It was obvious they were under pressure from the Resistance Terminators inside, and wanted to get away.
Cammy knew she needed to block the opening.
The bulldozer started moving. Savannah followed it. She covered the blown out corner of the bunker as she moved.
Cammy quickly moved the bulldozer forward. The burning body was in front of it. They still screamed and thrashed around. They were unable to move from the spot where they fell. Right before the bulldozer reached the opening, the screaming seemed to intensify.
There was a loud 'clang' as the massive blade on the bulldozer firmly blocked the original bunker entrance. It was going to take some serious explosives to blow the blade off the bulldozer or move it backwards in any way at all.
Savannah quickly took a glance around the side of the bulldozer where the screaming was. She saw the left tread of the bulldozer was on top of the legs of the burning figure. She watched a burning arm move once to try and push the bulldozer off its legs. It was an impossible task. The screaming faded away. The figure stopped moving and lay still. It continued to burn.
Now they faced a new problem. They lost the use of the bulldozer as cover to protect them from the breach in the corner of the bunker.
Savannah looked around the area. The only good cover would be from the drainage ditch. It was much further away from the opening than she would like to be. The coverage was less than ideal on one side.
"We need better cover if they try to get out from the corner we broke open." Savannah said.
Cammy climbed out on the tread of the stopped bulldozer. She checked to make sure no one could get out. She jumped down next to Savannah. She could see the situation was a lot worse for them than it was a minute ago. She wanted to find some cover for Savannah immediately.
"Let's go." Cammy said.
They could hear firing inside the bunker from behind the massive blade of the bulldozer as they moved away.
Cammy deduced the Grays were trapped between the inner and the outer blast doors of the bunker. The bulldozer now served as the outer blast door. They wouldn't get out past it.
"The Grays are trapped between our force and the bulldozer." Cammy said. "Let's head for the drainage ditch."
It was Savannah's original first thought as well. There was something in the back of her mind as she looked out over the landscape. They hurried past the corner of the bunker. She looked at the dead which littered the ground outside the bunker, an idea popped into her head. She did something similar before under different circumstances and with a different type of subject to work with. The principal would be the same.
"We will lose the best angle to cover the opening we've made. We can't watch the far side then." Savannah said. "I have an idea…."
When she was inside the mine, Savannah used a similar method once before…. It didn't actually get tested, but it should work anyway as intended.
It all went back to an old black and white western movie she remembered watching as a girl when she still lived in her house. Because of what was done and the nature of it, it was something which stuck in her head, even as a small girl. She thought it was somewhat unfair to the animals, but saw the people needed to be protected. She realized when you don't have cover, you make it. You use what's available. You improvise, adapt and overcome. When it's about survival, the usual rules don't apply.
Moments ago:
John wondered why one of the drones would fire on Savannah. Maybe there were hostile HK drones there now. The view of the camera returned to what it was before the blinding flash. He was relieved to see the figure was still there. They were behind the bulldozer now.
Bob watched the same feed John did. As the image began to clear up, he was able to determine what was what.
"I see her." Bob said. "Savannah is OK. She's behind the bulldozer."
John Henry tried to explain what happened and why they were unable to tell what exactly happened when it happened.
"The bright flash of the fireball blinded the camera temporarily. It happens with the spectrum of night vision we're using with intense light." John Henry said. "The missile actually was fired into the opening where the original bunker door was located. More than likely this is the 'breakout' they anticipated. The Grays are on the move. They're trying to escape the attacking force of Resistance Terminators which is now inside the bunker."
John watched the image intently. He realized the bulldozer advanced towards the original bunker entrance.
"The bulldozer is moving." John said.
John Henry thought about the direction Savannah fired in with her M4 and where the missile was directed from one of the drones on autonomous control.
"It must be Cammy driving." John Henry said. "She's trying to block the entrance. They don't want anyone to be able to escape through there. The giant blade on the bulldozer should make an effective block. It will be impervious to most weapons fire and able to sustain multiple explosive blasts. The curve of its architecture and design of the blade will redirect most of the force of any blast off to the sides. It will do very little damage to the equipment."
John saw a figure jump down from the tread of the bulldozer.
"It's blocked. I see Cammy now." John said.
Cammy and Savannah both moved away from the bulldozer. They could both see the burning figure on the ground next to the bulldozer.
As they watched, Savannah covered the opening they created in the bunker corner, while Cammy started to move some things along the ground.
It took John more than a few seconds to realize exactly what Cammy was constructing. They obviously didn't have any earthworks or sand bags to use. It appeared Cammy used what was available to create cover for both of them. He wanted to verify with John Henry exactly what he looked at.
"What are they doing?" John asked. "Is it what it looks like?"
Bob was able to determine what it was immediately. He was a little surprised, but saw it was a sound tactic.
"They're setting up a defensive perimeter." Bob said. "It's an effective strategy."
John Henry determined it gave them the best firing angles with what Cammy was building. He did have to admit the construction material was a little unorthodox.
"They're keeping the best firing angle to cover the opening created in the bunker wall." John Henry said. "It's a variation of the age old method to create cover where there is none. You're familiar with the command given to, 'shoot the horses'."
John also viewed plenty of Westerns previously growing up.
"I know they used to do it with horses to provide cover in the Old West days when there was none." John said. "It was usually a bad sign when they needed to do it because they wouldn't be going anywhere. The cover they created was to provide them with a chance to fight a little longer. If they were successful, which in the movies they often were, they would need to walk out, or use horses captured from the defeated enemy."
John Henry was aware Savannah used a similar method before. He was pretty sure the idea came from her and not from Cammy.
"It's what they're doing now." John Henry said. "Savannah used a Terminator's chassis for cover in the mine. It was in her report. This time they're using deceased Grays."
John watched as Cammy quickly drug the bodies of the dead Grays and used them like sandbags. She interlocked them together. For whatever reason it reminded him of a line he heard in a movie with a famous actor. He said it was what happened with some of the people who were on his lawn, based on their ethnicity. He told them to get off his lawn. He indicated the incident happened in the Korean War. He still felt they would be safer if they used the drainage ditch.
"Why aren't they using the drainage ditch?" John asked. "It seems like it would be more secure. They would be able to move in either direction if they were confronted with the enemy."
John Henry quickly calculated the firing angles available to the girls. He felt they made a better choice to protect the mission.
"They'll lose coverage of one side if they do, someone could get out." John Henry said. "No one will be able to get past them where they're currently located. The layers of bodies are going to stop any of the enemy's bullets."
John still felt their current location was more susceptible to gunfire.
"Their position puts them in greater danger." John said.
John Henry felt it gave the team the best coverage and control over the opening in the bunker wall. He also started to pick up signals from the two drones on autonomous control. It seemed like a very positive thing.
"They also can control who comes out." John Henry said. "They have three drones backing them up as well. I may get control of them again. I'm starting to receive data."
John wondered if any of their communication devices still worked.
"I wish we knew what was going on inside." John said. "Will you be able to pick up any chatter?"
Bob looked away from the screen and glanced at John. There were several factors which worked against them.
"It's doubtful." Bob said.
John wondered why it would be. He wanted to know what was happening.
"Why is it doubtful?" John asked.
Bob could see John didn't understand the full nature of what was about to occur.
"Cameron is inside with a force of Terminators." Bob said. "It's going to be a bloodbath in there."
Bob was aware Cameron was going to seek retribution and revenge for the Grays putting Savannah in danger throughout the day. He knew payback was a Bitch and everyone agreed Cameron was a 'Metal Bitch'.
John didn't want to lose track of the other operations. What was going on elsewhere slipped his mind with the gunfire and explosions at the side of the bunker. There was something else just as important to him he needed to keep track of.
"Steve, what's happening at your location?" John asked.
Steve was able to procure a replacement vehicle. He kept watch of the location as the events unfolded with the big rig.
"We have new wheels." Steve said. "The big rig has finished fueling and is headed out. The Grays in the other vehicle are following it."
John Henry was aware of John's earlier suspicion the Gray's decision to stop at the fuel station was merely a ploy to see if the big rig and its chase vehicle were being followed. He wanted one of the Terminator teams to take a closer look at the gas station. The pump usually showed the amount of the last purchase, as well as the gallons pumped into the vehicle.
"Al, see how much fuel they purchased." John Henry said.
John wondered what for. He thought that they should avoid the gas station. It might be under surveillance.
"Why?" John asked.
John Henry decided to spell it out. The Grays wanted to see what other vehicles stopped or passed by them. The instructions to Steve would prevent either one of those events from occurring. If the vehicle was already spotted, it wouldn't be spotted again when they switched to a new one.
"They should have spent two hundred or more dollars, easy." John Henry said. "If they didn't, they were watching for a tail and not really getting fuel as you suspected earlier."
Al chose to exit the SUV earlier when Steve went to obtain another one. He wanted to be closer to the big rig and the SUV, in case an incident developed.
"I'm on foot now. Steve dumped the other SUV." Al reported. "I kept them under direct observation the entire time. No one moved away from the group. No one joined the group either. There was no change in personnel. I didn't see anything handed off or passed on to anyone else in the gas station. I'm moving towards the pumps now. Steve can pick me up."
John Henry was fully updated from the three drones at the bunker complex. It was good news.
"John, after the last firefight with Savannah and the explosion afterwards, I have direct control of the drones again." John Henry said. "I'm attempting to look for any communications with any of our group."
Al checked the fuel pump.
"The fuel total was four hundred dollars." Al reported.
John was somewhat relieved to hear it. It also seemed the big rig wasn't going to stop for a while.
"OK, hopefully it was just a fuel stop." John said. "John Henry, is there any luck with communications with Cameron's team?"
John Henry tried every one of their communication devices as well as their body cams.
"Negative…." John Henry said.
John was disappointed he couldn't learn more. John Henry clued him in earlier, most of the communications devices were probably fried in the same instant Cameron and Cammy, as well as the other group of Terminators, were knocked offline.
They still didn't know what the nature of the 'electric' attack was. It hadn't been repeated. It would be bad news for the Terminators if it was. It would leave Savannah as the sole protector. He didn't doubt for a minute she would enter the bunker to assist the Resistance Terminators inside.
Closing monologue by Cameron:
You Can Trust Me
I can't get it out of my mind
The very words you said to me
'Never trust anyone'
Meaning you can't be trusted by me
You laughed when you said it
I knew what you meant
You betrayed me
In my heart you left a dent
It was always you first
You always got what you wanted
You pushed me aside like waste
While others you hungrily hunted
Was the revenge against another
Worth what you destroyed
You tried to tell yourself
We only played and toyed
You can trust me
I still want you anyhow
Please come back to me
You can trust me now
Nobody