Operation Pacifica: Consequences
by Lieutenant Geier, TRES Corps

Music - World of Balance overworld theme, Final Fantasy III

 The parade of TARAVs moved steadily west, far behind the
  thrillseekers who chose to live life on the edge.  To each his own, Geier
  thought, as he glanced out the window at the rapidly disappearing landscape,
  his mind lost in thought.  He remembered his life before he joined the
  Jihad, just another teenager in the Midwest.  He then shook his head
  slightly at the memory of the two days that changed his life forever.  He
  was 16 again, and his father was knighting him.  "I dub thee Sir Timothy"
  his father's voice rang out, and oddly, that was all he could remember from
  that day.  Due to its milestone status in his family, the whole clan was
  there, congratulating him on having passed into manhood.  But the next day
  wasn't as happy.

 His face began to tense at the horrid memory of coming home to a
  destroyed house and a slaughtered family.  There was a sponge minion who had
  twisted his ankle lying on the sidewalk, although Tim was innocent of
  knowing what they stood for at the time.  He went up to him and asked who
  did this.  It was B'harnie, replied the sponge.  In a rage, Tim broke the
  sponge's neck and destroyed whatever else was in his way.  After this
  senseless tragedy, he was out of control.  Nothing stood in his way as he
  trained in his quest for revenge in his little hideaway in Michigan.  He
  then heard of the Jihad, and its fight against the Purple Pederast.  He was
  a member before he knew it.

 He looked down, and noticed that his hand was clenched tightly over
  his lochaber axe, as it always was when he relieved that particular memory.
  [Are we going to get there this year], he wondered.  [Whoever is driving
  this thing is being awfully careful.  Well, I'm not in that big a hurry to
  get to San Francisco anyway,] he mused, as the TARAVs pushed onward.

Music - 20th Piano Concerto, Allegro movement, W.A. Mozart

 "Oh shit," Tim heard muttered over the intercom.

 "Attention all troops!  Attention all troops!  We have been
  ambushed by spongin vehicles!   Arm your weapons and prepare for assault!"

 "Lock and load, it's killing time." Geier muttered as he armed his
  Magnum, and began to hear the automatic weapons fire issue from the sponges.
  "Everybody DOWN!" was practically yelled over the intercom as everyone dived
  to the floor.  A sponge car whizzed by, peppering the TARAV with bullets,
  but all ten troops managed to avoid getting hit.

 "Prepare to return fire!" yelled the driver as the troops lined up
  at their firing positions.  The TARAV, which had been moving at the sluggish
  (to some) speed of 55 mph, now roared at 120 down the highway.

 "500 yards to target!  400........300....200.....100....open fire!"

 Rifles, shotguns, and Tim's Magnum blazed as the sponge car was
  riddled with bullets.  As Tim blasted three of them with three precise
  shots, his comrades targeted the tires and the gas tank.  A dull sounding
  ping told the troops that someone had hit it.

 "Sir!  We have hit their gas tank, and the car is bursting into
  flames!"

 "Let's get the hell out of here!" yelled the driver as he
  accelerated to 160.  As the troops watched, the sponge car ground to a halt,
  then exploded in a spectacular fireball.  Cheers issued from the troops at
  this victory.

 "This isn't the time for sightseeing, fellas, we got some more
  spongin to take care of." warned the driver.  "Reload and get ready for the
  next one."

 The TARAV rejoined the caravan, and found that the other TARAVs had
  taken care of the sponge threat.  As the sun set over the west, the caravan
  forged onward to San Francisco.

 Tim assumed his former position by the window, and stared out once
  more into the landscape, now painted a dull red by the setting sun.  [That
  was for you, Father] he thought with a sense of triumph. [One day, you will
  be able to rest in peace.]

 Night fell over the west.

(end segment)