@dankcushions As it turns out, it was looking for a specific file from a secondary Shock Troopers ROM. Not much to say beyond, "I didn't do my due diligence." The filename in the verbose log was so similar to one already in the ROM that I didn't realize it was actually missing. Also new to me is a Neo Geo game requiring a secondary file. I've dealt with parent and clone ROMs in the past, and even have experience with CHD's and secondary files with CP System III stuff, but this was a new one for me.
I appreciate the confirmation that I had it wrong. Between that and Googling the crc I was able to find the missing file and get this running.