Terminator: Infinity

IDEA

It was a rainy day at a distant battlefield. Plasma bolts and bullets screamed across the battlefield. Explosions flared upon the landscape. Low-flying helicopters and APCs traveled along the outskirts of the battle. Near a ruined building, two dark figures in ghillie suits crawled around. When they reached a pile of rubble that served as the building's entrance, they stood to join their fellow Resistance members.

They both removed their hoods, one, a female went in a separate direction with the other soldiers. Her partner, Shawn O'Neil, followed another group of soldiers down a hall. There, they came to another room with some radio equipment and John Connor.

John was sitting in front of him. "Shawn, glad to have you back," he said. "Report."

Shawn stood at attention and saluted.

This made John chuckle but feel uncomfortable. "Calm down," he said. "Just chill, have a seat, and gimme your report."

Shawn visibly relaxed his body before sitting on the nearest rock. "Battle's in the bag. The pincer attack seems to be working. Right now it looks like we're dealing with a few automated defenses and light reinforcements from the base. We've taken out any aerial and tank HKs."

John stood and walked over to a map of the battle hanging on a wall and ran a hand across it. He thought studying it would make him look good, or at least belong. Since coming to this reality, he's had to adjust from a life of peace to living in a wartorn hellscape. It was all to be with Kate, besides Quin, no one knew he was from an alternate reality. Likewise, he was the only one who knew Quin was a Terminator. "Supplies are on the way," he said. "Standard convoy. Supply line is secured, arming and feeding us every day now."

"Sir," Shawn said. "Quin and I switched places only a few months ago, so maybe I'm just not used to the way you do things. The supply line is important, but I never knew you to be heavy on the logistical side of things. We have people for that. Quin would sometimes mention that you are a brilliant tactician."

John sat next to Shawn and gave him a curious look. "I usually just let my generals handle the fight."

Shawn, overwhelmed by John's presence, looked down at the ground and said. "But, then you might have two to four people with different ideas that clash."

John playfully smacked/grabbed Shawn's shoulder. "I just go with the best idea," he said. "Speaking of. What's your idea? What should be our next move?"

Shawn looked up at John in surprise. "Me," he asked, almost in wonderment. "Sir, I don't know if I should say anything. I mean, I already suggested this pincer attack..."

John rocked Shawn's shoulder back and forth. "C'mon," he interrupted. "You just said the battle was in the bag. You gotta have some idea of how to seal the deal. What would you do?"

Shawn gave it some thought for a moment. "I hear you liked to use your snipers," he began. "Tell them to press on hard and give them artillery support. Ten minutes later we'll blitz the facility on all sides with soldiers, APCs, and our helicopters. Hopefully, all of that sudden movement will be too confusing for the machines. Actually, the snipers and artillery will probably take out any remaining defenses at that point."

John pat Shawn's shoulder as he got up and moved to get on the radio. "This is Cupcake," he started. "Repeat, this is Cupcake. Snipers, move in with everything you have. I want artillery to support them. Hit the defenses hard for ten minutes then, everyone else, swarm in. APCs, helicopters, soldiers, all of you, hit the base on all sides. It's time to close up shop."

Shawn stood. "Find me after the attack, Sir," he said. "Also, I've been meaning to ask for a while now, so I hope you don't mind. Why the name change? Your callsign I mean."