Closing the comm line, Mr. Bairon then began writing on his computer, an order for troopers to be drawn by numbers to aid in Dr. Archive’s test.  He paused and thought about it for a minute, then said, “He said it really didn’t matter who the test subjects were.  Wouldn’t it just be easier to reassign the troopers returning from the front.  They wouldn’t be too keen on going out to California anyway.”  He thought about the situation a little longer then said, “Why am I worrying about this?  I pay people to handle these kinds of problems.”  He then said, “Computer, open a comm line to Commander Faraday.”  The computer replied, “Opening comm line...  comm line open, Mr. Bairon.”  Mr. Bairon then stood up from his desk, making sure Commander Faraday could see his sheer size to its fullest and said, “Commander, I need you to get out a transmission.  I need volunteers returning from the field to be flown to the testing grounds in Iceland.  I need at least 100 of them, if not more.  They need to arrive within 48 hours as per Dr. Archive.  Do you copy?”  Commander Faraday replied, “I copy sir.  I will relay the message immediately.”  Foregoing any formalities Mr. Bairon ended the comm line call immediately after receiving the recognition.  

The Bairon-Midley Corporation’s ghost division is divided into ranks similar to but not the same as the old US military.  Rankings are achieved with a combined score based on three different criteria.  A written assessment; a physical assessment; and years of service. With each increase in rank, an increase in pay scale is also applied.  Due to the difficult nature of achieving higher rank; pay increases are offered with each rank increase.  Note: an increase in rank does not necessarily mean a change in job placement.  The ranks are as follows: 

~excerpt from The G.E.T. Troopers Application Packet

Sergeant Norman came across the unit 38 comm line “Troopers we are going to march through the night to the rendezvous point.  There is no time for rest.  Conserve as much power on your suit as you can.  There isn’t enough battery to make it the whole way to the rendezvous point.”  Sara thought to herself, “Just great.  We are all already mentally exhausted from the ghost encounter, and now we are going to march all night with our suits in standby mode.”  She rolled her eyes at the thought of this.  “Unpleasant though this is, we have trained for this type of situation as well,” Sergeant Norman continued.  Just about that time, a private comm line opened on Sara’s visor.  It was Corporal Haroldson. 

“You holding up okay over there?” Haroldson asked, genuinely concerned for Sara's well-being.  “A little shaken but otherwise fine.” she replied, trying to hide any signs of weakness she might show.  “Good to hear, Lass.” Haroldson replied with a clearly forced chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.  “Normally our missions aren’t going this crazy." he replied, chuckling again, trying to make her laugh.  Sara knew he was just trying to lighten the mood, so she played along and laughed a small little laugh.  “Well, it looks like it is gonna be a long night.  So, what brings you to this outfit any way kiddo?”  Haroldson asked more casually. Sara pondered his question for a moment and then answered, “I guess it is because of my father.  He was a decorated officer in the Pan-American Sphere military, Marine of the 1284th.  I always wanted to be strong like him and serve my country.  At least that is what I thought, but the war suddenly ended and there wasn’t as much of a need for troops.  Then add to that the ghosts started appearing; so despite my father’s wishes, I joined up with Bairon-Midley to try to protect the world from something worse than the Geo-Asian Combine.”  “Well, not that it makes any difference, coming from me, but I think your dad would be proud if he could see you now,”  Haroldson replied sincerely.  “I doubt it. He wasn't the most understanding of men.” Sara said, sounding more depressed than before.  “He would be really mad and upset that his daughter didn’t sign up to protect the country that he so loved.  Day in and day out, he would always talk about how great an honor it was to serve in the military.  In the end, I didn’t follow his wishes,”  Sara said letting out a sigh.  “Well, I'm not so sure about that.  I think that he would be proud to see his pretty little girl protecting the whole world rather than just one small country,” Haroldson, as if he had picked the perfect answer from the sky, replied.  Sara sighed again and said, “Maybe you are right.  Guess, we will never really know, but in a weird sort of way; I hope you are right.”

Before she realized it, several hours and many miles had passed while conversing with Corporal Haroldson.  Just as Sara had been doing, other members of the unit had been conversing with each other on private comm lines while the unit trudged through the night.  The conversations might have gone on the entire trip if not for the interruption of another message coming across the emergency Bairon-Midley channel.  Commander Faraday appeared on the screen, “The situation has changed.  Pasadena, California is gone.  Completely destroyed.  West Pan-Am base will be sending all available units to the area to help with civilian casualties; elimination of the ghost; and containment of the situation.  Reinforcements will arrive ASAP.  Units are being brought in from all bases to aid in this mission.  This ghost is considered extremely dangerous.  Continue with your current orders for those units in the field,” the message stated and then began to repeat.  

Norman, being the only one to have access to this channel listened and then opened the unit 38 comm line, “It looks as though a state of emergency has been declared for the Pasadena area.  We are to proceed on with our current orders.  It looks like the reinforcements will be coming in to take over.”  Sara immediately thought to herself, “What the hell good are reinforcements!  They are just gonna get their asses smoked like we did.  Oh well, not my call!”  Though missing some of the details of Norman's first statement, Sara’s thoughts were then interrupted by Norman's next statement saying, “Also, about an hour ago, I received a direct order from Commander Faraday.  I was going to wait till we got closer to base before I told you but, I guess now is as good of a time as any.  We are all being reassigned.  As of our arrival on base, we are no longer unit 38. Each of you will be given a new assignment.” 

Silence fell across the whole unit at the end of Norman’s message.  There was no chatter across any private comm lines on the whole way home.  Everyone was thinking similar things about the situation.  This news even came as a shock to Sara who had only been with the unit for a few weeks.  She couldn’t help but think, “What can the upper brass be thinking?  We lose our commander, get our butts kicked, and now we are getting split up into the reinforcing units?!”  The comfort Sara had just begun to form with the rest of the 38th was about to be little more than a distant memory.  “This is just normal for this type of outfit, I guess?” Sara thought to herself, as she trudged forward in total silence.  “Still, this feels rushed.  Why would they want to break up a unit during an emergency?  I guess because we don’t have a commander anymore? Maybe?” she thought to herself.  Just then a comm line opened in her visor, “You must be lost in thought back there, lass.  You are lagging behind! Get it in gear and keep up!” Corporal Haroldson said.  She immediately replied,” Sorry Sir! It won’t happen again Sir!”  “Relax trooper, this isn’t an official thing.  I was just concerned because you are the newbie to our group.  Figured it might be harder on you seeing all that you have seen, and then being reassigned,” Haroldson said.  She immediately replied, “No Sir!  I am perfectly okay sir! Just feeling the fatigue a bit.” Haroldson, knew she wasn't being honest but laughed any way, and said, “I see.  Well if you need to talk, I am here.”  “Yeah, same,” she replied, picking up the pace to catch up with the unit.  

“It is this time I will remember the most.  I wanted to say something, anything to make it feel better for her; but, I couldn’t.  All I could do was be her commanding officer.  She was more physically fit than most of her male counterparts; had more pride in her performance than anyone I know; was more stubborn than a mule; and had a fiery temper.  For all these reasons, she made an outstanding trooper.  For all these reasons, I fell in love with her at first sight.  Sara Marie Snow, I will never forget her. 

~Excerpt from Corporal Haroldson’s Journal Entry 2153

As they continued to march, Haroldson couldn't help but think to himself, “Well, I know she won’t break, but she is definitely feeling the pressure.  I guess it can’t be helped.  I don’t like the thought of being reassigned either.  What could they be thinking back at HQ?  They need us in the field, not going in for reassignment.” 

Trying to block out the pain and fatigue, Sara found herself lost in thought for the rest of the trek back to the rendezvous point.  She kept wondering, “What could destroy a transport and then disappear without a trace that fast?  It is true it was a ghost, but no one had ever encountered one this radically different before.  Most ghosts can be tracked one way or another.” She also thought, “Every ghost has certain abilities related to what they are.  For example, a skeleton ghost was able to be fully disarticulated and could pull itself back together.  Furthermore, undead type ghosts would feed on the life of the living.  They would withstand being set on fire for a decent length of time.  They never tired, they were not affected by drowning or breathing for that matter.   Other ghosts would appear more familiar, often looking like beast or wild dogs.  The one thing they all had in common was that they could all be destroyed with enough fire power.  This ghost, the flame dancer, that we're chasing, is different though.  Nothing seems to work on it.  No one has seen its actual form, only the fires left behind; and most importantly, unlike all the others, it doesn't leave any type of scannable signature to follow.  Not to mention that the destruction it is causing is FAR worse than any other ghost ever reported.  Exponential magnitudes worse.  What are we really up against?”