diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-image.yml b/.github/workflows/build-image.yml
index 2f44be4..ee51cfe 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-image.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-image.yml
@@ -15,14 +15,20 @@ jobs:
     outputs:
       VERSION_STR: ${{ steps.config_step.outputs.VERSION_STR }}
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
       - name: "Determine Version"
         id: config_step
         run: |-
-          VERSION_STR=$(cat VERSION)          
-          echo "::notice::Version STR=${VERSION_STR}"
+          VER_BUILD=$(date +%H%M)
+          # limit to only first 3 chars
+          VER_BUILD=${VER_BUILD:0:3}
+          # 'strict' semver segments cannot start with 0
+          VERSION_NUM="$(date +%y).$(date +%-m).$(date +%-d).${VER_BUILD#0}"
+          # recreate as INT, leaving 0's in place; creates a 'reasonable' 32-bit signed int.
+          VERSION_INT="$(date +%y)$(date +%m)$(date +%d)${VER_BUILD}"
+
+          VERSION_STR=${VERSION_NUM}
           echo "VERSION_STR=${VERSION_STR}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          echo "::notice::Version STR=${VERSION_STR}"
   #endjob build_cfg
 
   trigger-build:
@@ -51,7 +57,7 @@ jobs:
                 "dockerfile": "Dockerfile",
                 "arch_allowed": "amd64 arm64",
                 "name": "${{ github.repository }}",
-                "version": "${{ needs.build_cfg.outputs.VERSION_STR }}",
+                "tag": "${{ needs.build_cfg.outputs.VERSION_STR }}",
                 "build_args": [
                 ]
               },
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tag-release.yml b/.github/workflows/tag-release.yml
index 6cfb155..c19639d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tag-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tag-release.yml
@@ -14,13 +14,19 @@ jobs:
     permissions:
       contents: write
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
       - name: "Create Version STR"
         id: config_step
         run: |-
-          VER_BUILD=$(date +%-H%M)
-          VERSION_STR="v$(date +%y).$(date +%-m).$(date +%-d)-${VER_BUILD:0:3}"
+          VER_BUILD=$(date +%H%M)
+          # limit to only first 3 chars
+          VER_BUILD=${VER_BUILD:0:3}
+          # 'strict' semver segments cannot start with 0
+          VERSION_NUM="$(date +%y).$(date +%-m).$(date +%-d).${VER_BUILD#0}"
+
+          # recreate as INT, leaving 0's in place; creates a 'reasonable' 32-bit signed int.
+          VERSION_INT="$(date +%y)$(date +%m)$(date +%d)${VER_BUILD}"
+
+          VERSION_STR=${VERSION_NUM}
           echo "VERSION_STR=${VERSION_STR}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           echo "::notice::Version STR=${VERSION_STR}"
 
@@ -29,8 +35,8 @@ jobs:
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         with:
-          tag_name: ${{ steps.config_step.outputs.VERSION_STR }}
-          release_name: ${{ steps.config_step.outputs.VERSION_STR }}
+          tag_name: v${{ steps.config_step.outputs.VERSION_STR }}
+          release_name: v${{ steps.config_step.outputs.VERSION_STR }}
           generate_release_notes: true
           target_commitish: ${{ github.ref_name }}
   #endjob build_cfg
@@ -61,12 +67,12 @@ jobs:
                 "dockerfile": "Dockerfile",
                 "arch_allowed": "amd64 arm64",
                 "name": "${{ github.repository }}",
-                "version": "${{ needs.build_cfg.outputs.VERSION_STR }}",
+                "tag": "${{ needs.build_cfg.outputs.VERSION_STR }}",
                 "build_args": [
                 ]
               },
               "deployment": {
-                "deploy_flag": "${{ github.ref_type == 'branch' }}",
+                "deploy_flag": "0",
                 "k8s_project": "${{ env.K8S_PROJECT }}",
                 "k8s_container": "${{ env.K8S_CONTAINER }}",
                 "deploy_msg": "${{ env.SLACK_DEPLOY_MSG }}"
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
deleted file mode 100644
index 73a6103..0000000
--- a/VERSION
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-4.0.16.7