The Hidden Depot Raid
By: AliasCWN
Chapter1
"I suppose that you heard that the Fifth is fighting hard to hold the Germans in their present positions."
Sam Troy and Jack Moffitt nodded their heads.
"The German supply line from their main supply depot has been cut, leaving them short of supplies, including ammunition and gasoline." Captain Boggs drew lines on the map with his finger. "The problem is, the Germans are still getting those supplies. Now if we could find out where those supplies are coming from," he turned to face the two sergeants, " and cut that line, the Fifth can push them back. And by we, I mean you. I want you to resupply your jeeps and leave immediately, every hour we wait is costing lives." The Captain straightened from leaning over the map and reached for a dispatch lying next to it. "There have been some reports of trucks seen in an area south of here. Check out the area and see if there is any sign of a depot hidden around there." He handed the dispatch to Troy to read who handed it to Moffitt after he was finished.
"What do you want us to do Captain? Should we call it in or take it out?" Troy flashed a grin at Moffitt as he ask. They had a side bet going as to just what would be ask of them.
"Take it out Sergeant. The flyboys are busy helping the Fifth. Besides, if it is there, it's pretty well hidden. Our spotter planes haven't been able to find even a trace of it."
Troy nodded solemnly. "They're probably using rakes to erase their tracks and only going in or out after dark. They'll keep everything buttoned down tight during the daylight hours."
"That much we figured out all by ourselves Sergeant. Now if you can locate it, and destroy it, the Fifth can get on with the job of pushing Jerry clear out of this sector."
"We'll do our best Sir." Troy responded.
"I've done some camping in that area, I have a few ideas about where to look." Jack Moffitt placed the dispatch on top of the map and took a step back.
"Then get going, our boys are dying out there."
The two sergeants saluted and left the office. Captain Boggs watched them leave with a frown on his face. He was asking a lot of the four men and he knew it. If the Germans did have a secret base to resupply their troops, it would be heavily guarded, and the four men would be badly outnumbered. He was still worrying a half hour later when he heard the jeeps pass his office on their way off the base. "God speed and good luck, you're going to need it!' He thought to himself as the sound of the engines faded into the distance.
"Alright, you win." Jack Moffitt handed Sam Troy the equivalent to a five dollar bill.
"You aren't going to be a sore loser are you?" Troy teased, tucking the money into his shirt pocket.
"How did you know?" Moffitt was referring to their orders.
"It just makes sense. The Germans are getting supplies from somewhere and it's pretty common knowledge that the flyboys are being kept busy keeping the krauts from sending reinforcements." Troy shrugged.
The two of them made their way to the motor pool where the privates had automatically begun to resupply the jeeps. Tully was discussing an issue with his jeep with one of the mechanics, trying to get a spare part in case they needed it. Hitch saw them coming and quickly dropped the hood on his jeep and strapped it down.
"Hey Sarge, what did the Captain want?" His smile faded as he saw the look on their faces. "He canceled our leave again didn't he?" Hitch didn't even wait for an answer before making a disappointed noise.
"Try not to take it too hard lad, the girls will still be there when we get back." Moffitt smiled at the blond.
"They'll probably forget they promised us one by then." The private grumbled.
Troy grinned and shook his head, once they were on the move his driver would forget all about his disappointment. Until then, they had plenty to do before they could leave.
"Did you restock our ammo and rations?"
"We were just about to Sarge. The jeeps are refueled, we filled all the jerry cans and we managed to con the mechanics out of new tires for both jeeps." Hitch smiled mischievously, "We told them you would bring the requisitions."
With a shake of his head Troy groaned. "I'll have to call Captain Boggs and have them sent over. Apparently we forgot to pick them up on our way out." Troy wasn't really angry, they had needed the tires.
"That's okay Sarge, we told them you might get side-tracked and forget. That happens to you old guys sometimes." Hitch was grinning now, his disappointment forgotten, as he heckled his sergeants.
Ignoring the comment since it took the youths mind off their canceled leave, Troy gave them their new orders. "We have orders to resupply and pull out right away. Make a list of what we need and let me check it before you take it to Supply."
"Right Sarge." Hitchcock answered, popping a bubble for emphasis. He walked to his jeep for a pencil and paper then sat on his hood to start the list.
"Tully!"
Tully made one last plea to the mechanic before he answered Troy's summons. Slouching over to the sergeant, he looked glum.
"What's going on?" Troy looked from his private to the mechanic. The mechanic didn't look any happier than Tully.
"I wanted a couple of extra spark plugs for the jeep, mine are getting fouled. He," Tully jerked a finger toward the mechanic, "says we don't have a requisition order for them and we already got tires without one. He won't give me any."
"Do we really need them?"
Tully shook his head. "Maybe. Can't be sure we're going to need them until we do, and then we're going to need them. If they go bad while we're out in the desert we can kiss that jeep good-bye."
"You can't fix the others to last a little longer?"
"It doesn't work that way Sarge."
"Then I'll ask the Captain to add them to our list."
Tully grinned, happy again. "The jeeps are ready to go then. We just need to get some supplies for us."
"It's a bit demeaning to know that the jeeps come first Tully." Moffitt remarked.
"They take us where we need to go Sarge." Tully explained seriously. "If they don't go, we don't go."
"I know Tully, I just never thought that I would be considered less valuable than a jeep."
"Don't look at it that way Sarge." His driver insisted. "Think of it as taking care of all of us together before we take care of any one of us individually. Those jeeps keep us all alive, without them, we'd all die."
Both sergeants smiled at the lanky private's logic. Trust him to come up with a way to make his beloved jeep invaluable.
"He's got a point." Troy agreed with a grin.
Defeated, the British sergeant threw his hands up in mock surrender. "I stand corrected….again. Luckily I didn't make any bets with Tully. I bow to your superior wisdom in this regard." He bowed repeatedly as the others laughed. The light-hearted moment soon passed as Hitchcock interrupted.
"Here Sarge." Hitchcock handed his finished list to Troy.
Borrowing the pencil, Troy added eight tires and six spark plugs to the list. Handing it back, he indicated both Hitch and Tully should take it to Supply. "Have them contact Captain Boggs, he'll authorize it over the phone since he wants us out of here as soon as possible. Get the supplies and hurry back. We'll leave as soon as we have everything loaded."
"Right Sarge." Hitch acknowledged the order and rushed away with Tully on his heels.