Terminator Salvation: Cold War

EPILOGUE

Losenko reported to the command center aboard the Wilmington. A messenger had informed him that General Ashdown required his presence. As he entered the compartment, Losenko wondered if this was about Ivanov’s unauthorized flight to Alaska. That deployment had cost the Resistance a valuable warplane and a veteran officer. Ashdown had yet to raise the matter, but Losenko expected to face the music eventually.

He was prepared to take full responsibility for his decision.

But Ashdown had more important affairs on his mind.

“We’ve found it,” he announced jubilantly, as though he couldn’t wait to inform Losenko of the news. He gripped a rolled-up computer printout. Losenko had seldom seen him so enthusiastic. He thrust the paper at the Russian.

“Read it.”

Losenko skimmed the document. It was a classified intelligence report suggesting that Skynet’s top-secret shutdown code could be obtained at an underground enemy communications complex in the sector of North America not far from the bombed-out ruins of Los Angeles. A substantial array of satellite dishes was the machine’s primary shortwave transmission hub for the entire region. If the hidden code was recorded anywhere, it was there.

“This looks very promising,” he agreed. The implications of the discovery—if they could be verified—were enormous. They might finally be able to win the war, just as John Connor had always said they could. He wondered if it was just a coincidence that the code was hiding in the very same territory in which Connor was now serving. There were those who believed that Connor was destined to be the one who ultimately found the key to victory over the machines.

An idea occurred to him.

“I suggest we send in General Olsen’s forces to secure the code.”

Which would include John Connor’s Tech Comm unit.

“My thoughts exactly,” Ashdown said. “Contact Olsen and get this thing done.”

Losenko smiled. A sudden renewal of hope dispelled whatever melancholy had lingered in him after Ivanov’s death. He could hardly believe his long voyage might at last be nearing its end. It was a shame that Alexei, and so many others, had not lived to see it.

After fifteen long and brutal years, it seemed as if salvation was at hand....

The End