Operation: Pacifica, From Within
by ST

[Day Eleven.  Time:0653]

 ST awoke after having some of the most peaceful sleep he'd had in
  months.  It was the first night after he had slain the Beast, and his quest
  for revenge had been fulfilled.  His family now gratefully rested, their
  deaths avenged.  As the news of b'harnii's death had spread across spongin
  camps, it had spread with equal vigor across those of the Jihad.  ST noticed
  that the troops now treated him with more respect than ever before, and also
  that people he had never heard of went up to him and expressed their
  congratulations.  ST treated his new-found celebrity with some apprehension,
  but he also somewhat enjoyed it.  None of those thoughts were on his mind
  now, however.  He had been called to an early-morning meeting to discuss the
  current situation, and he was running late.

 He threw on his duty uniform, as usual, and went over to the main
  tent to find J-Rock, DarkSide, jry, Palemon, and Mal sitting in chairs.
  They seemed to have been waiting for him, and J-Rock gave him a slight
  glance of impatience as the knight found a chair, sitting across from Mal.
  There was general chatter amongst the Jihaddi, which ceased as J-Rock raised
  his hand.

        "Gentlemen," he began.  "I have called you here in order to
  report that although CP did check in last night, he is now missing again and
  all attempts to find him have thus far proved futile. I.."

        "Whaddya mean he's GONE?!" Rear Admiral Yearnshaw suddenly
  interceded.

        "I didn't stutter," responded J-R.

        "Great," grumbled Mal.  "CP decides *now* is the time to
  play Doom:The Ultimate Experience."

        "How long has he been gone?" questioned Palemon.

        "About five hours," said J-R.

        ST's eyebrows had lifted slightly at this latest turn in
  events, and he leaned forward slightly, his hand resting on his chin.

        As he did this, DarkSide thrust his hands upwards in
  disgust.  "Maenads.  Go figure."

        ST observed that J-R did NOT take that remark very kindly as
  DS continued on. "What else can you expect..." he droned.  At this point, J-
  R grabbed a pointer and moved with it into a hostile posture, grinning a
  grin the likes of which ST had rarely seen.  ST tried with a scowl and a
  shake of the head to warn DS of the impending blow.

        Mal tried as well, uttering, "Umm..uhh...DS..."

        "I mean...really!" DS said as J-R moved into position.
  "What else...OUCH!" yelled DS as the pointer rang home on his noggin.  J-R
  discarded his temporary weapon and began speaking rapidly.

        "Not all the Maenads have gone on their own," he snapped,
  getting everyone's attention.  "Look at us!  If the Lyrans saw us now,
  they'd be busting a gut laughing at us doubting ourselves, and doing their
  work for them!  What we need to do is to figure out a way to move further
  eastward.  We're DEAD if we stay here!  The Maenads may be our last, best
  hope of breaking through!  And I'm not even going to address the
  disappearance of CP, Sam or J.  I'd get mad at too many people who have
  nothing to do with this at all.  But I know that if they were here, they'd
  be asking for the same thing.  If anyone wants me, I'll be around.  I need
  to get out of this room," he finished with disgust as he turned and stalked
  out of the tent.

	Mal glanced at ST.  "Battle fatigue."

	"No shit," observed ST.  "I know the feeling.  I also know that
  he's right.  It is my humble opinion that unless we get out of here, and
  quite soon at that, our asses are toast on a bun."

        Mal and jry looked at him.  "So noted," said jry.

        ST was about to say something, but suddenly he heard the
  ringing of two swords somewhere fairly close.

	 "Wait a min..you guys hear something?" ST suddenly interceded.

        "Such as?" questioned Palemon.

	 "Sounds like...swordfighting..something's not right here, I'll be
  right back," ST muttered as he ran from the tent.

Music - "Trapped Under Ice" _Ride the Lightning_ Metallica

	 "We don't need this," ST muttered as he ran from his bunk, Schlee
  in hand.  He ran towards the sounds of the fighting until he saw a house
  that was partially on fire.  He sprinted up to the door and found that the
  door was locked, and he didn't have his lockpick on him.  Getting
  frustrated, he pointed Schlee at the door.  [I'll use *this* for a key.]
  "FREEZE!" he commanded, touching the sword to the door.  The door became ice
  instantly.   He could see J-Rock, DS, jry, and Sabine inside, with jry
  extinguishing the fire.  J-Rock looked up and saw ST standing outside.

	"How the hell did you do that?" J-Rock asked, pointing to the door.

        "I just said `freeze' and touched the sword to the door," ST
  shrugged.  J-Rock shot him a look that seemed to say "not another one."

        "Mind if I come in?" ST asked.

	"Go ahead."

	ST reared back and shattered the door with his sword.  "What a way
  to make an entrance," he sardonically commented.

	"You're probably wondering what happened here, ST," began J-Rock.

	"Yes sir, I am."

	"The Lyrans were messing with DS's mind, making him think we were
  his enemies, and he turned into the DarkImp. I had to knock some sense into
  him...literally. I convinced him we were allies, fortunately, and that's
  when you showed up," the Admiral explained.

	ST thought about that.  "Damn, we already had that incident in the
  tent and now this?  We had enough problems without the Lyrans screwing with
  things.   This whole mission's turning into a shitbucket, isn't it?"

	The Jihaddi looked at each other as the truth of ST's words sunk
  in.

        "No kidding."

TBC in "Go East Young Knight, Go East..."
--ST