The Different Battles Raid
By: AliasCWN
Chapter 13
"Sergeant Troy, I'm glad you're back." Major Hawthorne greeted Troy and Moffitt as they entered the oasis. Moffitt stopped the jeep next to the Major and yawned discreetly.
"What now Major?" Troy asked with just a touch of irritation.
"We have a problem." The Major answered, motioning both sergeants to follow him. He led them to the command tent before he spoke again. Once inside, he turned to face them, indecision on his face. "I don't know quite how to say this Sergeant." He hesitated again, watching the two tired men. "You're not going to like this."
"The best way to say something Major is just to come right out and say it." Troy growled, letting his exhaustion slow his speech.
"Alright," the Major agreed, taking a breath, "the truck carrying your two men was attacked." He watched as the sergeants eyes narrowed with a predatory gleam. "According to the men who made it back, the Germans captured the truck."
"What Germans?" Troy asked, although he suspected that he already knew the answer.
"The column you spotted earlier today." The Major explained hurriedly. "It must have happened just after you reported in and I called you back.
"How many men did we lose?" Moffitt asked quietly.
"Three."
"Besides the men in the truck?"
"Those are the three we lost."
"How many wounded?"
"None." The Major admitted.
Troy and Moffitt exchanged looks. "Who was in charge of the escorts Major? We need to talk to him."
The Major lowered his head. "I left Captain Ellis in charge of handing out the assignments. He's new here, but he has experience in the desert… He didn't know Sergeant."
"Didn't know what Major?" The sergeant's voice was low, full of suspicion.
"He didn't know that Lieutenant Nance had had trouble with you and your men."
"Lt. Nance?" Troy was confused at the reference to his least favorite officer. "What does Lt. Nance have to do with this?"
"He was the officer in charge of escorting your men back to the base." The Major admitted. "He's confined to quarters until I can send him back to headquarters for an inquiry. I've talked to all the men who were with him on the escort detail." A frown marred the Major's stern features. "According to every man there, the Lieutenant abandoned the truck without making any attempt to protect it. Some of them claim that the lieutenant deliberately drove off course to the area where the Germans had been sighted. They're all in agreement that he turned tail and ran when they were attacked, leaving the truck alone with only two rifles for their own defense. The others wanted to go back and help but the lieutenant refused."
The two sergeants remained silent, waiting to hear the rest of the report.
"I'm sorry Sergeant; it looks like Lt. Nance may have deliberately left your men at the mercy of the enemy."
"What happened Major? Did anyone report seeing any survivors?"
Here the Major nodded, seeing the relief on the faces of the men before him. "The men with Lt. Nance reported that they saw the truck stop when it was surrounded. They didn't report any gun fire from either side; apparently they surrendered without a fight. The Germans took them all prisoner, if you can believe the men who were there."
"Do you doubt them Major?"
"Only Lt. Nance I'm afraid. The others are all telling the same story." The Major admitted to the sergeants. "You can talk to him if you want but he's denying everything."
Troy shook his head, his mind already working on a solution. "We'd like to go after them Sir."
"I thought you might Sergeant. Pick up any supplies you need. Do you need any more men; I know I can get you some volunteers."
"No thanks jnMajor; we'll do better on our own. It's hard to hide a big group of men on the desert. The two of us can sneak in and get them a lot easier than a large group of men."
The Major nodded his understanding. "Good luck Sergeant, I hope you get them back."
"We will Sir, coming back without them is not an option." Troy left the tent with Moffitt on his heels.
The Major watched them leave, frustrated at the situation, gnawing at his lip. He headed for his radio operator to make arrangements to send the lieutenant back to headquarters for the inquiry. All of the witnesses would have to go along, leaving him shorthanded. He sighed as he realized that there was no way to word this report that would not reflect badly on him. With a growl he began to compose the message in his head, cursing the wayward lieutenant all the while.