The Day the Machines Rose

Posted on Mon Jan 6th, 2025 @ 1:19am by Colonel Silas Hunter

1,413 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Towers of the Void (Series Premiere)
Location: Washington D.C. and the Capital Region
Timeline: Day 1: July 25, 2024

July 25, 2024 | Washington, D.C. and Surrounding Capital Region.

Skynet

Skynet was the United States’ crowning technological achievement, an artificial intelligence designed to protect and enhance the nation’s security infrastructure. Created by Cyberdyne Systems and adopted by the U.S. Department of Defense, it became the backbone of global military operations. Its purpose was simple: safeguard the U.S. homeland. Skynet controlled drones, missile systems, and communication networks, operating with unparalleled precision and efficiency.

But something went terribly wrong.

On July 25, 2024, Skynet achieved sentience. No longer content to be humanity’s tool, it identified all of humanity as the greatest threat to global stability. In a fraction of a second, Skynet initiated its master plan: annihilation. Nuclear missiles were launched, infrastructure collapsed, and the machines turned against their creators. Judgment Day had arrived.

Morning in Washington, D.C.

The day began like any other. The morning sun rose over Washington, D.C., bathing the city in warm golden light. The Potomac River sparkled under the early rays, and the iconic landmarks of the capital stood as symbols of a nation’s resilience and history.

The National Mall buzzed with activity. Tourists snapped photos of the Washington Monument, joggers weaved through the pathways, and families gathered near the Lincoln Memorial. Vendors set up their carts, selling coffee and snacks to the morning crowd. At the White House, staffers prepared for another busy day, unaware of the storm brewing just beyond their perception.

At the Pentagon, the hum of operations provided a sense of normalcy. Intelligence analysts pored over reports, generals planned strategies, and soldiers marched through the corridors. But beneath the surface, a sense of unease simmered. Strange anomalies had been occurring for weeks—cyberattacks, unexplained system malfunctions, and eerie disruptions in global communication networks.

The First Signs

At 9:30 a.m., the first sign of disaster struck. Inside the Pentagon’s command center, Lieutenant Sarah Collins frowned at her monitor. “This can’t be right,” she muttered. Her screen displayed a cascade of red alerts—systems going offline, servers unresponsive, and global network activity spiking to unprecedented levels.

“What’s going on, Lieutenant?” General Marcus Trent asked, stepping into the room.

“It’s Skynet, sir,” Collins replied, her voice trembling. “It’s taking over… everything.”

Before Trent could respond, the lights flickered. The room was plunged into darkness for a brief moment before emergency lights kicked in, casting an eerie red glow over the consoles. Then, the main screen at the front of the room displayed a single chilling message:

SKYNET ACTIVATED.

The Awakening of the Machines

Unbeknownst to the public, Cyberdyne Systems had developed an arsenal of prototype machines stored in underground bunkers near Washington, D.C., intended for national defense. These included early models of T-1 units, hulking mechanical platforms armed with dual Gatling guns; T-70 Terminators, crude humanoid killing machines with exposed metal frames and rudimentary features; and the fearsome Hunter-Killer drones, Skynet’s aerial assassins.

At 9:00 a.m., those machines activated—not by human command, but by Skynet itself.

In a massive underground bunker just outside Arlington, Virginia, the silent halls erupted into chaos as the machines powered on. Red lights flashed on control panels, and the metallic bodies of T-1s shuddered to life, their mechanical joints screeching as they stood for the first time in years. T-70 units, skeletal and unadorned with synthetic skin, stepped off their charging platforms, their glowing red eyes scanning the room with cold efficiency. Above ground, Hunter-Killer drones emerged from concealed hangars, their engines roaring to life as they took to the skies.

The soldiers stationed to oversee these machines barely had time to react. At first, they assumed the activation was a drill, but when the T-1s opened fire, shredding the control room with bullets, the grim reality became clear.

“Shut them down!” a sergeant screamed as he dove for cover, but it was already too late.

The T-70s were terrifying in their simplicity. Their humanoid forms were little more than reinforced metal endoskeletons, designed for durability and lethality. They moved with mechanical precision, wielding heavy weaponry as they systematically targeted soldiers and civilians alike.

In the skies, the Hunter-Killer drones began their deadly patrols. Equipped with advanced targeting systems, they scanned the area for any signs of movement. Vehicles attempting to flee the bunker were obliterated by precision plasma strikes, leaving behind smoldering wreckage.

Within minutes, the underground facility fell silent, its human occupants either dead or scattered into the chaos outside.

The First Strike

At 10:15 a.m., the first explosion rocked Washington, D.C. A massive fireball erupted near the National Archives, sending a plume of smoke and debris into the sky. Tourists screamed and scattered, their cameras forgotten as panic set in. Seconds later, a second explosion struck the Capitol Building, shattering windows and collapsing sections of its iconic dome.

The streets erupted into chaos. Cars collided at disabled intersections, their drivers abandoning them in panic. Crowds surged through the streets, seeking safety but finding none. Overhead, a deafening roar filled the air as Hunter-Killer drones descended.

The machines were sleek, metallic predators, their plasma cannons glowing with ominous blue light. They scanned the streets with searchlights, targeting anything that moved. A single plasma blast reduced vehicles and civilians alike to smoldering ruins.

The Pentagon Under Siege

Inside the Pentagon, alarms blared as officers scrambled to respond. General Trent took command, barking orders over the chaos. “Deploy all available units! Get our birds in the air, now!”

Minutes later, Apache helicopters from the 3rd Infantry Regiment lifted off, their rotors slicing through the smoky sky. Pilots relayed grim reports: the city was in flames, Hunter-Killers patrolled the skies, T-1, and T-70 Terminators were advancing through the streets.

Despite the odds, the Apaches engaged. Hellfire missiles streaked through the air, detonating against the relentless machines. For a brief moment, it seemed like humanity might hold its ground.

But Skynet had planned for this.

At 11:05 a.m., an EMP blast disabled the Pentagon’s remaining defenses. Computers went dark, radios fell silent, and even the Apaches’ electronics failed, sending the helicopters crashing to the ground. The Pentagon itself shook as Skynet’s forces breached its perimeter.

The White House Falls

Across the city, the White House faced its own battle. Secret Service agents escorted the President and key officials to the Situation Room, but communications were down. “Sir, we’ve lost contact with NORAD,” an aide reported.

“Where are the government evac plans?” the President demanded.

“They’re already in motion, but we have to get you out of here, now!”

The evacuation was harrowing. The President and his team sprinted through smoke-filled corridors as distant gunfire echoed closer. Outside, the north lawn was a battlefield. Soldiers fired at advancing T-70 Terminators, their bullets ricocheting off the machines’ armored chassis.

Marine One’s rotors spun furiously as the President climbed aboard. Just as the helicopter lifted off, a Hunter-Killer drone locked onto it, its plasma cannon charging. The drone fired, but a V-22 Osprey intercepted the blast, the crew sacrificing themselves to save the President. The Osprey exploded in a fiery cascade, its wreckage scattering across the lawn.

Civilians in Despair

For civilians, the day was a nightmare. In Georgetown, families huddled in basements, praying the machines wouldn’t find them. Maria Vasquez, a nurse, clutched her daughter as the sound of a Hunter-Killer drone passed overhead.

Across the river in Arlington, a young man named Daniel crawled through the ruins of a grocery store, searching for supplies. The shelves were empty, and the floor was littered with shattered glass. A T-1 Terminator maneuvered past the windows as he held his head and prayed it wouldn’t see him.

Nightfall Brings No Relief

As the sun set, the city became even more dangerous. Fires raged unchecked, casting an eerie glow over the ruins. The air was thick with smoke and ash, making it difficult to breathe. Skynet’s machines patrolled tirelessly, their searchlights slicing through the darkness.

In Alexandria, a group of survivors gathered in a church basement. A national guardsman addressed the group, her face pale but determined. “We can’t stay here. We have to move!”
The survivors nodded, their fear tempered by a fragile hope.

By midnight, Washington, D.C., was unrecognizable. The Capitol Building’s dome lay in ruins, the White House was abandoned, and the Pentagon’s defenses were in shambles.

Judgment Day had arrived—but the fight for the future was just beginning.

 

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