The Problem With Prisoners Raid

By:AliasCWN

Chapter 4

Troy reached forward and tapped Hitch on the shoulder. When his driver looked back Troy motioned for him to stop. As soon as the jeep stopped moving Troy jumped to the ground.

"Are you all right Moffitt?"

The other sergeant nodded slowly. "Yes, I think so. A bit shook up but otherwise I'm fine."

"Why don't you walk around a minute just to be sure?"

"All right." Moffitt agreed. He swung his legs out of the jeep and slid off of the seat. For a moment he swayed awkwardly but then his balance returned. He turned to look at the others. "Did you see what happened to Tully?"

"The krauts rushed him." Troy answered with a nod. "He was sitting up looking at them with his hands in the air. I didn't see any blood."

Moffitt nodded in relief. "I lost track of him when I rolled. Do we know where that convoy was headed?"

"A temporary base east of here."

"What about where it came from?"

"A temporary base west of here." Troy answered. "The commander is new to the area. We haven't run into him before."

"Beginner's luck that he managed to capture Tully." Moffitt guessed. "He must be feeling full of himself."

"That or his gunners are really good." Troy replied.

"They only got Tully." Hitch argued. "If they were that good they would have got me too."

"Maybe you just got lucky." Troy answered with a smile.

Hitch chewed his lip and silently admitted that Troy might be right.

"At least we shouldn't have too much trouble getting onto that base." Moffitt brought the conversation back to rescuing Tully.

"That convoy won't be back at their base until tomorrow at the earliest." Troy reasoned. "They'll finish delivering those supplies first."

"They might decide to leave Tully along with the supplies. They may not want to keep him with them." Moffitt suggested.

Troy nodded. "All right, we'll wait for the convoy to start back to their base and then we'll sneak in and see if we can find Tully. If they left him behind he shouldn't be too hard to locate."

"And if he's not there?"

Troy grinned. "Then we'll follow them home and pay them a visit there too."

"We should probably try to set the jeep up and see if we can get it running." Hitch suggested. "I'm not Tully but I might be able to get it going again."

"Good idea." Troy agreed. "I don't think it took a direct hit so it might be an easy fix." He turned to the other sergeant. "Are you all right to drive?"

"I'm fine, really." Moffitt assured him. "The dizziness has passed and I feel fine."

Troy nodded. "That's settled then. We'll try to salvage the jeep and then head for the base where the convoy was headed. If Tully's not there we'll hit the other base tomorrow night."

The convoy was gone by the time Troy, Moffitt, and Hitch reached the site of the ambush. Several of the trucks were still smoldering as they drove cautiously along the road. Troy checked each truck to make sure that the contents were destroyed so it couldn't be salvaged.

"It looks like we got fuel, ammo, some truck parts and two trucks of odds and ends of supplies." Troy reported after examining each truck. "Before we leave I want to blow the trucks parts so they can't use them."

"The miscellaneous supplies could contain items that we don't want them to have." Moffitt warned. "I suggest that we destroy them as well."

"Okay." Troy agreed. The two sergeants walked back to where Hitch was inspecting the jeep. "What do you think Hitch?"

"It doesn't look too bad Sarge." Hitch answered as he chewed his gum thoughtfully. "Once we set it up I can get a better look but I don't think anything is broken." Hitch blew a bubble and popped it before giving Troy a bright smile. "That fender may need to be pulled out so that it doesn't rub on the tire but that's minor. I'll have to check the oil but that won't take me long. I can get her running pretty quick I think."

"Okay." Troy agreed. "Let's get it set up and you can get to work."

Between the three of them they soon had the jeep on its wheels and Hitch gave it another quick check. He made a few minor repairs and pulled the fender away from the tire. When he hit the starter the jeep engine purred to life and Hitch declared it ready to go.

The three of them drove to the base where the convoy had delivered the supplies. The trucks were still there after being unloaded. Troy and Moffitt watched as Captain Tieger and the base commander walked across the compound to the waiting truck drivers. The two officers said their good-byes and the captain joined his men at the trucks. He gave a few orders and the trucks formed a line and drove back the way they had come.

"I don't see any guards on the trucks." Moffitt stated.

"There's one over there guarding that tent." Troy pointed to a tent near the rear of the German compound. "Tully could be in there."

Moffitt spotted the tent that Troy meant. There was a guard standing outside of the door obviously on duty. Moffitt couldn't see any movement from inside but that was not surprising. A prisoner would not be allowed to approach the door at any time.

"We'll go in tonight." Troy decided. "Until then we'll take turns keeping watch so they don't move him before that. Two of us can pull back and get some rest while the other keeps watch. We shouldn't have too much trouble getting to that tent. They left plenty of cover for us to use."

"Who is going to take first watch?"

"Hitch can take it." Troy decided. "We'll work on a plan while he keeps watch. We'll leave him a jeep in case he has to pull back. One of us can relieve him in a few hours." Troy squinted at the other sergeant. "Is there something else?"

Moffitt smiled self-consciously. "I suppose I am being a bit of a worrier."

Troy shrugged. "We're all worried Doctor. It doesn't help that we haven't been able to confirm if he's hurt or not. We'll all feel better once we get him back."

The two men went back to the jeep to tell Hitch the plan. The blond nodded and blew another bubble as he reached for a weapon and turned to go watch the base.

"Watch the base but don't ignore the surrounding area." Troy warned. "Keep an eye out for Tully. We need to know the routines of the base and the guards in particular. We'll leave you a jeep in case you need it and one of us will be back in a few hours."

"No need Sarge. I'm not tired; I can stay on watch until its time to go in."

"Once we get Tully we'll need to get out of here in a hurry." Troy warned. "Will you be all right to drive?"

"I'll be okay Sarge."

Troy nodded. "All right. Keep alert for patrols. We'll see you later."

"Right Sarge."

Hitch had the routines memorized by the time Troy and Moffitt returned just before dark. "They have four guards walking the perimeter." Hitch pointed out each guard. "There are another four who stay near the main tents. The fuel is kept in that tent and that on is the mess tent." He continued to point out the spots of interest. "That one holds supplies. I saw them carrying a couple of boxes out of there earlier."

"Where's the command tent?" Troy took note of each tent and its use as Hitch gave his report.

"That one over there." Hitch pointed again. "The tents right behind it are the barracks. I think the one right next to it is where they keep their communications."

"I'd like to take that one out but we won't risk it unless things go south."

"There's a guard outside by the door and another one inside." Hitch warned. "The commander goes in there at least once an hour. He stays in there a few minutes and then goes back to his tent."

"Reporting in." Moffitt guessed.

"Sounds like it." Troy admitted.

"Hitch, have you seen Tully at all?"

"Not yet Doc."

"Has anyone gone into that tent?"

"They delivered what looked like a tray of food a little while ago. They came back later and got it again. I didn't see who took the tray from the guard."

"All right. Try to get a little rest in the jeep. Moffitt and I will keep watch and familiarize ourselves with the layout. We'll wake you when it's time to go in."

Hitch nodded and took his rifle back to the jeep. When Moffitt came to wake him he took the rifle and stood guard over the vehicles while the sergeants went after Tully.

The sergeants used the cover available to them to reach the perimeter of the base. Even with the moon shining down on them they were able to move fairly quickly. Avoiding the guards was easier than they anticipated. The guards seemed more focused on looking inward than outward. The guard in front of the tent never saw them coming. Troy was able to choke him into submission without alerting anyone on the base while Moffitt kept watch. Troy took his place so Moffitt could go after Tully.

The British sergeant stepped through the door into the dark tent. In the dim light that filtered through the tent material he could just make out a form stretched out on the single cot. Moffitt hurried to the cot and knelt down next to the sleeping man. Reaching out, he gently shook his arm.

The sleeper awoke with a start. Turning his face he looked up into the wide eyes of the surprised British sergeant. Before he could sound the alarm Moffitt clamped a hand over his mouth.

Speaking in German Moffitt asked him to identify himself.