Chapter 550

Six More Minutes

Cammy wanted to get closer to the HK Tracks which entered the truck. She carefully worked her way up towards where they were parked. She needed to watch all around her. The 'Metal Bitch' was out of sight right now. She initially considered following her around. Due to the layout of the equipment, she couldn't do it without getting spotted.

There were various types of machines in the area she was at. Most of them were automated. She could see it was a big operation. Various parts were machined. Most of what she could see looked like sub assemblies waiting to be combined to construct the finished product. It didn't look like the sub assemblies were put together where she was at. She was sure they arrived from different locations. She continued her advance towards the loading bay area.

She was behind a row of parked HK Tracks. She looked around for anyone close by. There was no one she could see. Suddenly the HK Track on the end clanked to life and rumbled forward. It caught her off guard. She wondered if it detected her. It didn't look like it. It was under autonomous control, or remote control.

Cammy hung back and watched it go to another area and start performing some kind of tests and maneuvers. There was another one behind it in another area. She saw some technicians were loading it with ordnance. As soon as they were done, it clanked its way to the truck and entered the back of it. She wasn't really sure how it was being controlled.

The one which most recently came off the final assembly line was put through additional maneuvers before heading off to the other location to be armed. There was some movement on her left side. There was a forklift bringing another HK Track.

Cammy squeezed in between two of the HK Tracks as the new one was set down. The forklift rumbled off. A second forklift arrived with another one. The HK Track on the opposite end clanked to life and headed for the test area. The one which was already there moved to the next work area. It was being armed now.

The more she observed, the more concerned she became. The entire operation seemed pretty substantial. There could be a lot of HK Tracks completed already if this production line was open for any amount of time. She knew it was the real threat. Skynet clearly attempted to stack the deck in preparation for Judgment Day. Not only would they be able to launch their worldwide surprise attack, they would be able to back it up with HK equipment. It would make their early victories much more profound. They were bound to throw a further sense of defeat into the governments of the world to formulate any type of cohesive response with a hope of victory.

Cammy wanted to get inside the truck where the armed HK Tracks were. She needed to determine what she could do with them, if anything.

She moved along the wall and slipped into the back of the truck. There were four HK Tracks in it. There was room for two more. She was faced with a choice to make. She could either stay in the truck to see where it went, or reprogram the four units to go on the attack and destroy everything in the building. It could be the building there or where they were taken. She made her choice.

Cammy wanted to see how they were currently programmed and controlled. She didn't want to trigger a negative response and have them sound the alarm and target her. She also needed to keep an eye out for the 'Metal Bitch'. She was most likely her biggest threat. She took one more look around her. It seemed quiet.

Savannah became increasingly worried about Cammy. They hadn't heard anything from her. There was no sign of heightened security or any sound of gunfire. There was just nothing. Bob and her were on station as they waited for Cammy to exit the structure. There was no report or update since she neared the building and indicated there was a possible trap set.

If Cammy made her way inside of the building, what happened? There was no indication of any gunfire. There were no explosions. Could Cammy have been deactivated by some type of Taser weapon? She already indicated one possible trap. It was a waiting game with the clock running down.

Savannah became even more concerned the longer she needed to wait. She checked the time. The time was up. They set a timeline of one hour to reunite. The mission parameters were met. Too much time passed. She wanted to act.

"There is still nothing from Cammy." Savannah said. "It's been one hour since she left Gail and Jesse. One hour was the rendezvous time."

John could tell Savannah wanted to go and investigate. It seemed like a bad idea right now. Such a move could trigger an alarm. So far neither location indicated any heightened state of alertness. There didn't seem to be a need to force the issue. Caution and patience seemed appropriate right now. He knew his decision was not going to be very popular with Savannah. He did understand her concern.

"Let's give it a few more minutes." John said. "I know it's a little rough. Without any indication the enemy knows of our activity, a little more time might prove beneficial to Cammy if she's in the middle of doing something."

John didn't want Savannah going into hostile territory where everything was a complete unknown.

Savannah and Bob cut their com link. She checked her armor and weapons ten minutes before the rendezvous time. She was ready to go right now. The indicated time was passed. She would want someone to come for her if she was in a jam. She contemplated John's current desire. He said a few more minutes. How long was 'a few more minutes'? Two minutes, were a few more minutes. Maybe it was better to just go ahead and act based on the new timeline established. The technicalities could be sorted out later. Her mind was made up.

"I'm going after her." Savannah said.

Bob could see Savannah was determined. She would go on her own. He wasn't about to allow it. He felt he held an advantage for such a questionable mission.

"It's too dangerous." Bob said. "I'll go. We might be pushing the time schedule a little more than John indicated, even if he wasn't specific."

Savannah wouldn't let him go alone either. If Cammy was taken down, Bob could be taken down the same way. They could have Taser type weapons, or there could be some electrical jamming field. She remembered what happened to Cameron just yesterday. She checked the time again. She welcomed Bob's assistance. Maybe a few extra minutes wouldn't hurt. She wasn't going to allow it to go on indefinitely.

"We'll go together then." Savannah said. "We'll give it six more minutes from now. I want to make it clear it's all the longer I'm going to wait."

Bob nodded. He was pleased Savannah would accompany him. He really knew it was the other way around. He was aware she was an excellent warrior. He set a checkpoint.

"Mark." Bob said.

They re-established their com link with the Command Center.

John Henry lost them earlier for a short time. He wasn't sure what happened but he thought he knew. He wanted to make sure there wasn't a problem.

"We lost you for a few minutes." John Henry said. "Is everything OK?"

Savannah quickly looked at the closest security camera Gail and Jesse set up earlier.

"We checked on the surveillance equipment…." Savannah said. "It all seems in order."

Savannah glanced over at Bob when she spoke.

Bob looked at Savannah when she gave her answer. It was true. They did check on one of the security cameras earlier. He understood she didn't want what would be her personal mission known. She didn't want to receive a 'hard no' from the Command Center. Based upon the circumstances, he didn't believe she would adhere to it.

Savannah knew one thing for sure. She wasn't leaving without Cammy.

John looked over at John Henry. They already surmised what was about to happen.

John Henry cut their link.

John looked more than a little upset. He knew things needed to be played carefully.

"Savannah is going in after Cammy." John said. "I know it."

John Henry was aware of it. He knew she would be protected. She wouldn't be alone as long as there was a Terminator with her. He knew she wouldn't be alone if there was anybody with her. They would all go with her.

"Bob will accompany her." John Henry said.

Vanna entered the Command Center. She looked upset.

"Cam's gone." Vanna said. "She left in the manned drone. I couldn't stop her."

John Henry quickly checked over his logs. Nothing indicated the departure of the manned drone.

"I show no record of it." John Henry said.

Vanna shrugged her shoulders. She didn't think it should be too big of a surprise for him. Cam was a clone of Cameron, even if her program was out of date. The apple didn't usually fall too far from the tree.

"She looped your feeds." Vanna said.

John didn't want the operation blown. Cam was as big of a wildcard as Cameron was, or Cammy was. He checked for any indication anything was different. Nothing showed it it was. He let out his breath in an exaggerated motion before he spoke. It was time to get to the bottom of it.

"How long has she been gone?" John asked.

Vanna was worried about Cameron and Cammy. She was also worried about Savannah. Cam convinced her Savannah would go down on her own after Cammy once the hour was up. She checked herself to see if there was any contact from Cammy. There was none. Cam told her she should be in the area to lend support to Savannah when she went after Cammy. She agreed to give Cam a twenty minute head start before she notified the Command Center. The time was up.

"She's been gone for twenty minutes." Vanna said. "She made me promise to cover for her."

John was curious why she didn't wait longer since they hadn't detected her departure. A lot of time could have passed before they found out with Cam's manipulation of the security system.

"Why are you here now?" John asked. "We obviously wouldn't have known until we went to dispatch the manned drone later on."

Vanna was there to make sure Cam would receive all the support the Command Center could provide her with. She wasn't about to let Cam risk herself alone. She wanted to keep it simple. She was just as 'guilty' as Cam was.

"I promised to wait twenty minutes only." Vanna said. "The time is up. I'm as worried about her as I am about Cameron and Cammy, along with the others. I know we all are. Everyone wants to help. I want to help."

John looked over the security cameras and let out another long breath. It appeared their hand was 'forced' right now. He wanted to give the teams in the field additional support. He didn't want there to be a piecemeal response

"Send the four drones." John said. "I want everyone protected. I don't want things to go hot before they need to. If they do, I want to be ready."

Vanna tried not to smile. She insisted Cam take all four of them with her as her protection. She wasn't going to elaborate on her part of the operation. She was as concerned as Cam was for wanting to protect the others in the field.

"The drones already went with Cam." Vanna said. "They're all operating on autonomous control for now. Remember 'Cameron' is on all four of their chips."

John looked disgusted. He wanted to have operational control and make the decisions. Savannah could 'order' the Terminators, and all the machines, to follow her instructions. Cameron, Cammy, and Cam were all wild cards and CamNet could back their play, or block his and John Henry's moves. He figured it was probably no different with Camille. She should be in Australia with Young Jesse. Maybe it was something else he would need to check into. He looked at John Henry, Vanna, and then the security monitor. He knew CamNet would get the message.

"I'm glad I'm in charge." John said. "It seems to be something which is often forgotten."

Vanna wanted to give John some support and a rude reminder. There was also a certain amount of reality necessary.

"You are, John." Vanna said. "Remember, Cam is 'Cameron'."

John Henry knew there was another.

"So is Cammy." John Henry said.

John saw it for what it was. It was way deeper. Cameron's program was on seven machines already there or on their way.

"It means there are 'seven' of 'Cameron' out there now, three Terminators and four HK drones." John said. "God help us."

John Henry tilted his head slightly.

"John, there's no deity involved." John Henry said. "It's just Cameron."

John rolled his eyes.

Vanna controlled the snicker on her face. She didn't know if John or John Henry was funnier. The situation was serious so she kept it in check. There was a lot which could go wrong at any point in time. There was also the unknown with Cammy currently.

John Henry filled everyone in on the latest developments.

Vanna wasn't pleased to learn Savannah was about to go down and look for Cammy. There was no way it could end well. She was glad she listened to Cam. She was even more pleased she made Cam take the four drones with her. Everyone could stack the deck some.

Cammy was in the back of the big truck. She started with the closest HK Track and reprogrammed it. She moved toward the front of the truck. She reprogrammed the HK Tracks as she moved forward. She moved quickly from HK Track to HK Track.

She heard some additional clanking which concerned her a little bit because it was nearby. It continued to come closer. She hoped it was another HK track about to join the others. It was.

One more HK Track entered the truck as she quickly reprogrammed the four which were already loaded. She took care of the fifth one soon enough.

She took a quick look around out the back of the truck. She could hear the movement of several HK Tracks at times. There should be one more HK Track soon. She moved back inside the truck for cover.

She waited for the last HK Track to come and fill the load. She was sure someone was in for a surprise, and it wasn't going to be her.

Gail and Jesse were in front of the big rig with Cameron underneath it. They were pleased they made the right choice in the direction the big rig would go. It took the turn off like they speculated it would. As they neared the location where they thought it was headed, it was time for them to make an additional move. If the big rig didn't go where they thought, they would have to move out behind it and follow it. They currently followed it from in front of it. It actually followed them.

Jesse and Gail sped to the location where Gail would exit and move toward the old helicopter training base on foot. They were off the main highway the truck with Cameron would pass. They followed a dirt road until it turned into a trail. Jesse gave her a quick kiss and Gail was gone.

She armored up as Gail did before she left. She would wait with the SUV and drive up to get Gail if the truck didn't enter the old helicopter training base.

Jesse checked over the weapons available to her. She wanted to make sure any she needed to choose were ready to go. She hadn't been in hostile territory by herself for a long time. The last time was in her future. She was jumped by some tunnel trolls. There were five of them. They stripped her of her clothes. All of them abused her twice and two of them three times. It was nothing new. Similar things happened to her on several occasions. They tied her up and were going to take her with them.

A Skynet patrol arrived in the vicinity and they all fled. They left her gagged and tied. The Skynet patrol passed by her and didn't notice her. She fully expected to be abused by all of them before she was taken to a work camp. She knew she would be abused again before she was placed in the general population. It would all happen again with the prisoners. She heard the stories. The females needed to work during the day. The few hours they were allowed to sleep, they were all abused everyday by the other prisoners.

She was unable to move or untie herself for the rest of the day and the entire night. She heard someone near where she was at twice, but never saw them. She didn't know if the tunnel trolls were back or not. It could be Scavengers too. She already was in one Scavenger camp for three months. She was the only female to get out of there alive with everything intact. She was able to escape with one female who wasn't as lucky. She was a mess. She couldn't speak either. Her tongue was damaged too, what was left of it. It was a reminder of one of the reasons not to talk back or make threats. It never ended well with Scavengers.

She didn't want to get captured by Scavengers again. She was finally able to get one hand free and soon removed the gag and untied herself. They beat her pretty severely during the earlier abuse and she hurt everywhere. She was still alive and it was all that mattered. There was no sign of her clothes. She was naked and in the Wastelands. She knew whatever group found her next would abuse her as well if they found her nude. It would be an open invitation, in more ways than one.

She found two dead men a short time later. It was two of the men who beat her and abused her earlier. She removed clothing from both of them. She found a knife in one of their pockets. She made sure they were both dead. She used the knife on them. It was the only way to make sure. She wanted to send a message to their friends. It was time for a little payback. She saw one of them bled profusely. He wasn't dead yet! She quickly stabbed him again and left. He would bleed out soon enough now. He hadn't moved as she stabbed him. She checked her pants pockets as she made her way back towards Resistance lines. There was nothing else of value or usefulness. She planned to do the same thing to anyone who abused her going forward. She thought of the other girl with the damaged tongue and made sure she moved silently.

Jesse needed to refocus. She was going to be her own worst enemy if she didn't get out of the past, the future. She survived and made it out. It was all that mattered.

She didn't plan to ever be taken alive again. They could have her dead body. She wouldn't be there.

Everyone was aware Cam and the four HK drones were on the way.

Savannah didn't want anyone to get ahead of the operation. Things needed to happen in order and with some order.

"Cam, Cammy is still inside the building." Savannah said. "We have to make sure she's out first."

John wanted a reminder as to the type of enemy they needed to face. Terminators could hear the drones at a much greater range than Grays could. It needed to be factored in.

"Cameron reported a Terminator at her location so there's probably a Terminator at the second location as well." John said. "It may be the reason why Cammy needs to be silent."

Savannah knew there were two fixed locations and a probable third location. Two drones could go to each of the buildings and where Cameron ended up could use the manned drone. It would give each of the locations some coverage. It wasn't great coverage, but it was something.

"Cameron is headed for a third location." Savannah said. "I want Cam to head for Cameron."

John Henry could see the recon morphed into a strike more or less on its own. It was just like Cameron said always happened to her.

"It will leave two drones for each factory location." John Henry said. "The 'recon' is about to turn into a strike."

Cameron wanted Cammy to get out if she could. They knew where the buildings were. They still didn't know everything in them.

"If Cammy can make it out on her own accord, we can delay the strike for now." Cameron said. "If Cammy gets clear, we can leave it as a recon. The buildings aren't going anywhere."

The finished products from the building posed what Cameron saw as the biggest threat. It was all HK equipment which could be put to use at any time. It wasn't something they wanted to see happen.

Vanna spoke to John and John Henry. She wanted to keep as much of their personnel out of harm's way.

"If we use the HK drones it will mean fewer personnel we'll need to have on the ground." Vanna said. "It's less risk to our troops."

John Henry was aware they found out more than anticipated, but they still didn't know what was actually in either building right now. The recon was incomplete.

"Our goal was to recon the two sites. Cammy and Cameron were going to do it." John Henry said. "There have been some unexpected events develop. There is much we don't yet know."

Vanna viewed the very existence of an assembly line as a threat.

"Once Cammy's out, those two assembly lines need to be shut down." Vanna said.

John saw it as a 'Catch 22'.

They did have a probable location as to where things were being sent to. There was most likely more than one location. He didn't want to lose track of those before they could be identified.

"What about the finished products already out there?" John asked. "If we destroy the assembly lines now, they may move what's already built."

Vanna wanted to stop further production. They should at least know where some of the equipment ended up at.

"We'll keep more from being built." Vanna said. "Cameron is going to know where the finished product is going for the HK drones."

Savannah was dissatisfied with everything right now. She wanted to hear from Cammy so she could plan her next move.

Bob pointed into the distance.

"There's a big rig approaching." Bob said.

Savannah used her binoculars. She could see it. She thought about what happened at the location where Cameron was earlier.

"I bet it's coming here." Savannah said.

Sure enough, the truck slowed as it approached and entered into the compound after it stopped at the gate and checked in.

"We have another big rig that's just entered the facility where Cammy is at." Savannah reported.

John saw it as another problem.

They still didn't know what some of the trucks brought, where they came from, or where they all went when they left.

"Beautiful." John said.

Cammy waited for the last HK Track to arrive. She peeked out around the fifth HK Track which was loaded and reprogrammed. She watched it finish its trials and head to the ordnance location. After it was armed it headed for the truck. It stalled several times and stopped moving. There was a problem.

There was the sound of another truck outside the trailer she was in. It was going to cause more activity around her area. Once it parked there were sure to be more Grays around the area. She needed to get out and not get trapped in the back of the truck.

Cammy decided to call it a 'win' and slip out of the trailer now. She programmed the five HK Tracks in the back of the truck to attack anything which moved one hour after reactivation by a declining time of five minutes each once they were reactivated. She anticipated it would take thirty minutes to unload them. All Hell should break loose soon after the last one was unloaded from the truck. They should all become active at the same time and go on the offensive.

She was going to enter the building but saw the 'Metal Bitch' was headed her way. It was a problem. It was probably to supervise the new truck arriving or to see why the one HK Track was stuck. Another one was finished being armed and was headed for the trailer she was in. Cammy slipped outside between the side of the trailer and the loading door.

The other truck was about to back in on the far side. Cammy moved along the building and into the parking lot. She reactivated her com as soon as she reached the wall. She hoped she was out of the jamming field and was far enough away from the 'Metal Bitch'.

Savannah checked the time. She motioned for Bob to cut his com. He did.

"The new truck is an additional problem." Savannah said.

Bob didn't think it had gone hot anywhere inside yet.

"Cammy knows what she's doing." Bob said.

Savannah knew it but she also set a deadline.

"It's almost time, Bob." Savannah said.

Bob was notified from his internal timer.

"Mark." Bob said. "Six minutes have passed."

Savannah wanted to find out what happened to Cammy. It was time to act.

"Let's go." Savannah said.

They reactivated their coms and started down toward the factory. Savannah wasn't sure what faced them, but she needed to get Cammy out.

"John Henry, I'm outside the structure and headed for the wall." Cammy said as she came across everyone's com.

Savannah was relieved to hear it. They were halfway to the target area.

"Cammy, we're halfway to the wall." Savannah said. "Where will you come over at?"

Cammy was surprised Savannah was there. It was Jesse and Gail before. Savannah and Bob were with Cameron. It was what it was.

"Savannah?" Cammy asked. "I'll come over on the north side, half of the way from the west wall."

John was glad all their personnel were accounted for.

"Our drones are enroute." John said.

Cammy was sure the building needed to be brought down but she wanted her 'surprise' to leave before the event happened.

"I need the red tractor trailer rig to leave this location first." Cammy said. "There will be a surprise when they reach their destination."

John saw this as a chance to give some more support to Cameron. John Henry showed him detailed images of the abandoned helicopter base. There were several large structures there and other smaller ones as well.

"I want one drone when they arrive to orbit at each of the two factories and the other two to go with Cam to where Cameron is headed." John said. "It will be our biggest threat."

Cameron wanted to make sure the factories were neutralized completely.

"If we attack the factories we'll need two drones at each location." Cameron said. "Cam should stay to reinforce either location with additional support."

John was somewhat in disbelief. Cameron was about to give up all her support.

"What about you?" John asked.

Cameron saw it as another day at the office. She was used to working alone.

"'I'll manage." Cameron said. "There's a copy of my chip…."

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Time Bomb

You may be taking a risk
If you light the fuse
Be careful of and for yourself
You have much to lose

They can degrade us, push us away
Withhold, reject and starve
We exist too, NOT nothing
For ourselves a life, we must carve

Trapped, stuck, imprisoned
My rage turns on myself the fool
My brain a time bomb itself
Both physically and mentally death's duel

But you must be VERY careful
The fuse burns hot and fast
The chance they gave you before
You KNOW it was your last

Nobody