Operation:Pacifica "The Penultimate"
by Lieutenant Commander Geier, TRES Corps

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild 
call and a clear call that may not be denied. -- from Sea-Fever, John Masefield

        Geier was lying relaxed in the bed of his quarters, watching
  MST3K when his door buzzed.  He glanced at the clock, it read 0955.  [This
  had better be good,] he groused.  [I thought I told him to wait until
  noon...]  "Enter!" he shouted.

        The Warrior stepped into the room and stood at attention.
  He began, "Ensign Geier, you have been ordered by Admiral J. Foxglov to
  report to Conference Room G at 1000 hours.  Is there..."

        "Shiitt....," Tim cut him off as he flew out of bed,
  grabbing his formal uniform.  "If you'd excuse me, Warrior, I have to
  change.  I'll be right out."  With that, he slammed the door in the
  bewildered Warrior's face.

        Two minutes later, Tim was out the door and en route to
  Conference Room G.  He entered to find most of the TRES Corps personnel on
  this mission inside, except for Admiral Korth and Grand Admiral Marburger.

        At 0959, the Grand Admiral entered, silencing the assembled.
  "Good morning, everyone," CP began.  Tim noticed that his ultimate
  commanding officer seemed a bit more relaxed, less moody, as he was when
  this operation started.

        "Admiral Korth."

        CP's voice yanked Tim out from his woolgathering as he
  looked up to see Iota Squad's CO enter the room.  "Nice to see you're
  keeping up your reputation for punctuality." CP wisecracked.  [He *is*
  loosening up,] Tim silently noted.

        "As always," replied Korth, who looked slightly embarrassed
  as he had attempted to sneak in this meeting.

        "Now on with the meeting," CP continued.  "Mr. Felton!  Mr.
  Geier!  Front and center!"

        [Oh man, what'd I do now?] Tim silently moaned as he got up
  and stood to the right of the Grand Admiral.  CP gave him a slight glance
  before stating, "Commander Felton, for your exceptional work in Zeta Squad
  and imaging intelligence work on our enemy, you are hereby promoted to
  Captain Felton with full rank and privileges.  Ensign Geier,"

        [Let it be quick.] Tim mentally pleaded.

        "You've shown yourself to be an outstanding officer in the
  Corps.  Admiral Piper has commented several times on your capabilities, and
  you are to be rewarded for it.  You are promoted to Lieutenant with all
  effects due your rank.  Congratulations gentlemen!"

        Tim could only stand in a state of shock as CP pinned on two
  more golden dots to his insignia.  He gave an involuntary bow before he sat
  down, marveling at his promotion.

        "Now on to other business," continued CP.

        After the meeting concluded, Lieutenant Geier stayed a while
  to receive congratulations from the other officers.  After this he headed
  back to his quarters to find the Warrior waiting outside.

        "Yes Warrior, is there something else going on I should be
  aware of?"

        "Yes...Lieutenant??  You just got promoted?  My
  congratulations." stammered the Warrior.

        "Thanks man.  You were starting to say that something was
  going on before..."

        "Yes Lieutenant.  There is a briefing at 1200 in the main
  auditorium.  This was just called by Fleet Commander Samhain, sir."

        Tim nodded.  "All right, I'll be there.  Thanks for your
  help, Warrior, you are dismissed."

        "Lieutenant," responded the Warrior with a quick salute,
  which Tim returned as the Warrior returned to his other duties.

        After re-entering his quarters, Tim sat down and applied his
  new insignia to his duty uniform.  He kept his formal uniform on and waited
  for 1200.

Music - "Main Theme" _Apollo 13 Soundtrack_ James Horner

        At about 1157, Geier strode into the auditorium and took a
  seat.  He waited there until Samhain stepped up to a microphone and thumped
  on it.

        "Ok everyone," he began," "We're getting ready to head out
  of here. Three hours from now--at 1500 hours--the fleet will leave port and
  we'll all be on our way.  That should give everyone approximately 2 hours to
  get settled in before we leave.  Now, before we get to all the nitty-gritty
  details of where everyone is and what they'll be doing, I have a couple
  brief announcements to make.  First, if Trooper Aphrodite would come forward
  for a moment, please..." [Looks like DS and I aren't the only ones getting
  promoted today,] Tim smiled.  He watched on as Samhain promoted Aphrodite to
  Warrior Persephone, to loud applause.  After the last of applause, Samhain
  continued, "Now on to all those gory little details none of you really want
  to know but need to hear anyway..."  [The ship assignments, I presume,] Tim
  contemplated.  He listened as Samhain gave them out.  He was assigned to the
  DFS Tsunami, along with Sabine.  It was she that approached him as the
  briefing concluded.

        "Hey Lieutenant!  Congrats again on your promotion!" she
  smiled at him.

        "Thanks again..." he glanced at her insignia..."Lieutenant
  Commander...Ford, is it?" he said in an questioning tone.

        "Just call me Sabine.  And what name do you go by?  I don't
  think I've ever heard any name mentioned for you except for that of Geier,"
  she said in response.

        Tim hesitated a second before going forward.  "You can call
  me....you can call me...umm....S....T!  Yeah, call me ST." he said with a
  laugh.

        "ST?  As if we don't have enough Jihaddi going by initials
  anyway," she joked.  "Does that stand for anything?"

        "No," he said a little too quickly.  In response to her
  taken-aback expression, he said, "At least....not yet.  I just like it, I
  guess," he shrugged.

        She nodded.  "All right, ST, nice meeting you, and I'll see
  you in three hours, until then, bye!"  She waved and then turned to rejoin
  the conversation.

        "Good-bye," waved back ST.  After talking a bit with the
  rest of the Pacifica team, he headed back to his quarters to prepare for the
  long voyage ahead.

[Time:0300]
Music - "All Systems Go-The Launch" _Apollo 13 Soundtrack_ James Horner

        ST walked up to the docks with his usual stride.  Waiting
  for him next to the DFS Tsunami were Sabine and a Doberman captain.

        "ST, is it?" the Captain began.  "I'm Captain Roswell, and
  I'm your transportation to Pacifica.  Hop aboard and enjoy the ride."

        ST nodded.  "I think we're going to get along well,
  Captain."

	 "I think so as well, Lieutenant," responded Roswell.  "Feel free to
  partake of our Good Gaming[tm] facilities...we have the version 1.09J of
  Quake, as well as Doom, Heretic, MK, all the rest of the Good Games[tm]."

        "Excellent," stated ST.  "I shall be sure to do so."

        "Loosen up, damn ye," laughed Roswell, reaching up and
  slapping the shoulder of the six-seven officer.  "You don't have to talk
  like you're Spock or something."

        "Point taken," groused ST.  "Enough small talk, Captain, I'm
  ready to lock and load...it's killing time..."

        "Just keep it on the computer, for my sake," joked Roswell.

        The three Jihaddi walked up the gangplank and into the
  Tsunami.  ST was too involved in a Heretic deathmatch to notice when the
  ship left port with the rest of the fleet.

        San Francisco had been fun, but now Pacifica awaited.

--ST