Disclaimer: The Rat Patrol is not my property. They come out to play sometimes, then I send them home.

Secret Weapon

By Suzie2b

Hitch opened his eyes and looked up at the bright blue sky. After a minute he slowly looked around. He saw his jeep turned over and smoldering with Troy crushed beneath it. In a panic Hitch looked for his other friends. The second jeep was on its side and blown apart. He saw Tully next to it and the blood from his damaged head looked unnaturally red. Moffitt had apparently been thrown from the back of the jeep when it had been hit, as his lifeless body lay crumbled several yards away.

Hitch pressed his fingers into his eyes in hopes it was just a terrible dream, but the sights around him remained. He levered himself up onto his elbows and realized his legs were missing, leaving bloody stumps from the knees down. Hitch didn't feel any pain, but his breathing picked up as his panicking heart began to beat impossibly faster. He opened his mouth to scream, but instead he jerked awake with a gasp.

As he always did after this nightmare, Hitch sat up to threw the blanket aside to make sure his legs were still there and intact. He looked around the small camp and saw Troy and Tully sleeping peacefully. Hitch noticed Moffitt standing near the jeeps on watch. He let himself fall back onto the blanket, his heart still trying to beat its way out of his chest as he scrubbed his palms over his sweaty face.

Moffitt knelt beside the private and whispered, "Are you all right?"

Hitch nodded. "Just a dream."

The sergeant patted his friend on the shoulder knowingly and stood up to resume his time on watch.

#################

Morning came and Tully met Hitch at the jeeps to ready them for the day. "How've you been sleepin' since we left base?"

Hitch replied, "Okay, I guess. I did have another dream last night."

"Same one?"

Hitch nodded. "With the doctor's help I haven't had one in a couple of weeks … until now."

Tully asked, "Does the doc have any idea what's causing the nightmares?"

"He thinks it stems from when I almost lost my leg."

"That's been quite a while back. Why would you suddenly start having dreams like this now?"

Hitch shrugged. "I can't figure it out either. The dreams I had back when I was in the hospital in England were just about reliving what happened. They weren't as intense as this and I stopped having those after a couple of weeks."

Moffitt joined them and said, "Personally, I think it's the war in general that causes us to have nightmares. We've seen a lot of death and lived through an awful lot out here. It's a wonder nightmares don't come more often for all of us."

"I wish you were my doctor instead of Dr. Dillard. You make more since then he does. But after a month of this same nightmare almost every night, it seems to be getting better."

Troy wandered over and asked, "Are we ready to go?"

Tully said, "Ten minutes or less, sarge."

"Okay, get to work. We're supposed to be at Akhmim by noon."

"Don't worry. We'll get there with time to spare."

#################

It was just 11am when the jeeps pulled onto the base at Akhmim. Hitch and Tully dropped Troy and Moffitt at headquarters before taking the jeeps to the motor pool.

They'd just finished getting the jeeps ready to go out again when Troy and Moffitt showed up.

Hitch asked, "So what detail did we pull, sarge?"

Troy sighed. "Escort duty. There's a division meeting at the base at Umm Qasr Wadi. We're to get General Bailey and his aides there."

Tully questioned, "From here? Why didn't they go into Benghazi? It's closer."

Moffitt said, "It's a case of don't ask, don't tell."

Troy said, "Yeah, they didn't tell and we didn't ask."

Hitch asked, "When're we leaving?"

"0700 hours tomorrow."

Moffitt said, "We've been assigned quarters for the night. Shall we drop our packs off before we have lunch?"

Troy said, "Major Kyle told us to stick together and to stay away from alcohol until the general and his men arrive at that meeting."

Tully asked, "When does the meeting start?"

Moffitt replied, "Day after tomorrow."

"That doesn't give us much time to get there."

Troy gave a nod. "It's going to be a long drive."

#################

That night Tully awoke when he heard Hitch gasp. Then there was a rustling sound in the dark that indicated his friend had gotten out of bed. Tully turned his head as Hitch crossed the room and left.

When Hitch returned, he caught sight of Tully sitting on his bunk when he opened the door letting light in from the hallway. He silently closed the door and went to sit next to Tully with a sigh.

Tully whispered, "You okay?"

Hitch nodded in the dark. "Yeah."

"Was it that dream again?"

"Yeah … no … I'm not sure. It somehow seemed different this time."

Tully asked, "Different how?"

Before Hitch could answer, Troy said quietly from his bunk, "Why don't you discuss it in the morning. Some of us are trying to sleep."

The privates whispered in unison, "Sorry, sarge."

#################

It was fifteen minutes to 7am when the Rat Patrol pulled up in front of headquarters. There were two other jeeps parked and ready to go. They knew they were General Bailey's because of the flags that were attached prominently on the front corners.

Troy frowned. "Hitch, you and Tully get those flags off of those jeeps. We don't need to advertise who's with us."

Hitch and Tully slid out of their jeeps and went to do their jobs. When they returned, Troy had Hitch pull their jeep to the front and Moffitt and Tully would bring up the rear.

0700 hours came and went, and the Rat Patrol was left waiting for General Bailey and his men.

Troy paced as he puffed on a cigarette. "They set the time. We won't be able to get to Umm Qasr Wadi for the start of that meeting if we don't get moving."

A few more minutes passed before General Bailey and his three aides stepped out of headquarters. As the general walked toward them, Troy dropped his cigarette and crushed it under his boot. The Rat Patrol stood at attention and saluted.

General Bailey returned the salute and said, "I assume we're ready to go."

Troy gave a nod. "Yes, sir."

One of the general's aides, Captain Ryan, looked at the two empty jeeps and said, "There is no insignia on either vehicle, general. I ordered the flags personally."

Before General Baily could make a reply, Troy said, "I had my men remove them, sir."

The captain looked down his nose at the sergeant. "And why would you do that?"

"Because we're going to be moving through enemy territory, captain. Those flags would announce who's in the jeeps and that's inviting trouble. They're stowed in the back."

Baily gave a nod. "Sounds reasonable to me, captain. We'd best be on our way."

#################

It was a long hot day in the desert. They only stopped when necessary. At one such stop for gas and a radiator check, General Baily's aide Lieutenant Stark asked, "It would be nice to take a break more often, sergeant. The jeeps offer a rough ride and the general is complaining about his back."

Moffitt straightened up from his position checking their route on a map. "I'm sorry to hear that, lieutenant. However, since we left Ras Tanura late we need to make up as much time as possible before nightfall."

"I see."

"Can I ask you something, sir?"

Stark nodded. "Of course."

Moffitt questioned, "Have any of you ever been to North Africa before?"

"No, I was stationed in Hawaii when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. I was wounded trying to help get civilians to safety with bombs dropping all around. I was sent back to the states when I recovered enough to be moved and was eventually assigned to the pentagon. That's where I became a lieutenant."

"How did you end up with General Bailey?"

Stark said, "I was recommended – by who I don't know. I was the last one picked for this trip. General Bailey volunteered to come for this meeting. Captain Ryan has been with the general for about a year and Lieutenant Martin was a recommendation too."

Moffitt smiled slightly. "Well, it would appear you have your hands full."

Stark returned the smile. "Yeah, but as long as I follow orders and keep my nose clean, things work out."

Later that day, after finally stopping for the night, General Bailey found Troy and his men by the fire. "Sergeant Troy, a word please."

The sergeant stood up and followed the general and few yards from the others. "What do you need, sir?"

"I know we left a little late this morning, but was it really necessary to put us through this today?"

"Sir?"

Bailey said, "Lieutenant Stark had a little talk with your Sergeant Moffitt and was told that because we didn't leave your base on time we had to make up for it by not taking as many breaks along the way."

Troy said, "General, I was ordered to get you and your men to Umm Qasr Wadi in time for this division meeting. That's what I intend to do if at all possible. Our schedule is going to tight at best. Leaving an hour late threw a wrench into the works."

"I see. Have we made up enough time?"

"Yes, sir. I think so … as long as the Germans don't find us."

#################

That night Hitch had yet another nightmare. At first he thought it was the same as the others, but once his heart stopped racing he realized it wasn't. It was more like the one he had the night before they left Akhmim.

It was the same in that there were two jeeps blown up. There were four bodies instead of three with him being the only one alive. Now Hitch seemed to be looking out over the scene rather than being a part of it. He wasn't the one with his legs blown off and he gasped when he finally figured out who he was looking at. In his mind's eye Hitch could see the scene perfectly. He looked around and noticed that dawn was approaching.

Hitch saw Troy and Tully were asleep, which meant that Moffitt was on watch. He got up and went to the jeep Moffitt and Tully shared. After retrieving a flashlight, he got the map bag from under the seat. Hitch opened up the map he'd seen Moffitt using the day before. With the light from the flashlight he started going over the predetermined route marked on the map. He really didn't know what he was looking for, but hoped he'd recognize it when he saw it.

After a minute of concentrating on the map, a quiet voice from behind Hitch asked, "Can I help you with something?"

Hitch was so startled he nearly jumped over the hood of the jeep. He turned and looked at Moffitt standing there. "Yeah … yeah, maybe you can."

Moffitt inquired, "Are you all right? Did you have another dream?"

Hitch nodded. "But it was different this time."

"Different how?"

"It wasn't me sitting there with my legs blown off and it wasn't you, Troy, and Tully laying there dead. It was General Bailey and his men. I seemed to be there overlooking the scene."

Moffitt said, "Settle down. It was just a dream."

Hitch said, "No, I don't think it was."

Troy and Tully wandered over after being awakened by the conversation. Troy asked, "Then what was it, Hitch?"

"I … I think it was a warning."

"A warning about what?"

Hitch took a breath. "I think if we continue on the route we picked, the general and his men will die."

Moffitt asked, "Do you know where we are when it happens?"

"Not exactly. That's why I got the map. I thought I might be able to figure it out."

Moffitt joined Hitch at the jeep. "What were the surroundings like?"

Hitch thought for a second, then said, "There was sand, but there was hard pack and rocks too. It was like a depression between hills."

Tully yawned. "I'll build the fire up and put some coffee on."

Troy gave a nod, then went to join his other two men as Moffitt said, "There's an area here that would take us through what you described." He put his finger on the map. "Right here. The route cuts right through the dunes."

Hitch asked, "Is that the only place that's like that?"

"As far as I know. Come to think of it, it could be a good place for the Germans to set up an ambush."

Troy stated, "So you think the Germans know we're coming."

Moffitt said, "It's always a possibility."

"If we change the route now, we're going to be late for that meeting for sure."

"Better late than dead."

Troy looked at Hitch. "You're sure about this? You honestly believe the general and his men will die if we keep going this way?"

Hitch nodded resolutely and said, "I feel it in my gut, sarge. I've never been so sure."

Troy said, "All right. Get started on a go around."

Moffitt asked, "Are you going to notify the base at Umm Qasr Wadi about the change?"

"Nope. If the Germans have found out about the meeting, I don't want to take a chance on warning them that things have changed."

#################

When General Bailey was told of the change in route and the fact they were going to be late getting to the meeting … suffice it to say he wasn't happy.

The general railed, "This is unacceptable! What makes you think there may be an ambush waiting for us?"

Troy said carefully, "We are in German held territory and information presented itself to us early this morning, sir. Out of an abundance of caution I chose to take us around the area in question."

"What information would that be, Sergeant Troy?"

"I'm not at liberty to reveal the informant, general."

The general said angrily, "I am the senior officer here! If I say I want to know where the information came from, I damn well mean now!"

Troy said calmly, "I'm sorry, general, but I believe it would be detrimental to reveal where the information came from."

Bailey looked at each of Troy's men. "I know this comes from one of your men. I am giving you a direct order, sergeant…"

Lieutenant Martin cut in saying, "Excuse me, General Bailey, sir. I must say I agree with the sergeant's caution. Granted we'll be late for the start of the meeting, but better safe than sorry. And the preliminary introductions aren't usually terribly interesting."

The general huffed and puffed for a few more seconds before he finally said, "Thank you, lieutenant. Maybe you're right." He turned back to Troy. "All right, sergeant, we'll take your new route 'out of an abundance of caution'."

Troy nodded. "Thank you, sir."

As Troy and Hitch got into the jeep, the private said quietly, "Thanks for not telling them I was the informant and it was a dream, sarge."

Troy gave a small smile as he said, "I didn't think that information needed to get out."

#################

The morning passed quietly, but the afternoon found the Allies having to duck for cover on several occasions to avoid German patrols.

They were in the cover of a waterhole in the midafternoon to let the engines cool when General Bailey confronted Troy again. He looked at his watch and said, "Well, the division meeting started over an hour ago. I'm seriously considering putting you on report, sergeant, for your insubordination."

Troy said, "You do what you need to do, general. I stand by what I said."

Bailey looked sourly at the sergeant and changed the subject, "How long before we get to Umm Qasr Wadi at this point?"

"If all goes well, we should be there not long after sundown."

"Haven't we been here long enough?"

Troy said, "Yes, sir. It's time to get going."

#################

As soon as the jeeps stopped at the gates, one of the guards was on the phone to inform the base commander, Major Aaron, that General Bailey had arrived.

The major met the jeeps outside of headquarters. "General Bailey, I'm awfully glad to see you, sir. When you didn't arrive before the start of the meeting, we thought perhaps you'd been caught up in the ambush at a pass along the route that had been recorded for your trip."

Bailey questioned, "An ambush? Where did you get that information?"

"When you and your party didn't show up, sir, I requested a couple of spotters to fly over your route. They didn't locate you, but did see the Germans set up and waiting to ambush whoever came along."

The general looked at Troy. "I see." He looked back at Major Aaron and said, "You can thank Sergeant Troy for that. He somehow found out about the ambush and changed our route to get around it."

The major looked at Troy and said, "Good job, sergeant."

Troy said, "Thank you, sir."

Bailey changed the subject and asked, "Did I miss much in today's meeting, major?"

Aaron replied, "We delayed the start as long as possible, sir. We'll be able to get you caught up in the morning."

"Good. My men and I are hungry and quite tired."

"We'll take care of that immediately, general." Major Aaron again looked at Troy and said, "You and your men can take the general's jeeps to the motor pool along with yours before doing anything else."

Troy gave a nod. "We'll take care of it, sir."

#################

After leaving the four jeeps in the motor pool, the Rat Patrol returned to headquarters to get quarters assigned. Then they went to get some dinner at the mess hall.

As they ate, Troy said jokingly, "So now you can see the future. That could come in handy."

Hitch smiled good-naturedly. "Just don't ask me for the winning lottery numbers."

Tully asked, "What I'm wonderin' is why you started out seeing us dead, then it changed to be General Bailey and his men."

"I was wondering that myself. Everything in the dream was the same, except for who died."

Moffitt said, "Maybe it had to do with the first mission Captain Boggs tried to give us."

Tully questioned, "We were supposed to go on a different mission?"

Troy said, "Moffitt and I were being briefed on a different assignment when the news came that General Bailey needed an escort to Umm Qasr Wadi."

Moffitt said, "That mission would've taken us through that same area that the Germans were waiting to ambush us. The very one that was in your dream."

Hitch said, "So it started out that we were going to die, but then when we were assigned to escort the general it turned out that it was him and his men getting killed instead of us."

"It would seem so."

Tully asked, "Think it could happen again?"

Hitch said, "What? Knowing when we're going to die? I sure hope not."

"It would be nice to have a warning so we can avoid gettin' killed."

Moffitt smiled. "I don't think we have that much control over our dreams."

Troy added, "Besides, how would you know whether or not to believe what you see in a dream. Hitch didn't figure things out until the dream changed."

#################

Early the next morning while the Rat Patrol was having breakfast before heading out, General Bailey appeared in the nearly empty mess hall. Everyone immediately stood at attention and the general said, "At ease people." As they all sat down again, he signaled Troy to join him.

Moffitt, Hitch, and Tully watched as Troy went over to the general and then followed him outside.

Tully asked, "Wonder what that's about?"

Moffitt picked his fork up and said, "If we need to know, I'm sure Troy will let us know."

A short time later Troy returned and sat down with his men. He didn't say anything at first, but then noticed Moffitt, Hitch, and Tully were staring at him. "General Bailey insisted I tell him which one of you knew about the ambush and how."

Hitch's eyes got big. "What did you tell him?"

Troy said, "I told him the truth. That you had a dream about him and his men getting killed at the very spot where the spotters saw the Germans."

Tully smiled slightly. "Did the general believe you?"

"At first he was a little angry, thinking I was joking around. But then I think he realized I wasn't kidding. He wanted to know why I changed the route simply because Hitch had a dream. I explained that you guys wouldn't say something if you didn't believe it. I saw how serious Hitch was that morning. Dream or not General Bailey and his men are alive because of Hitch."

Moffitt asked, "What did he have to say to that?"

Troy replied, "Nothing. He simply nodded, turned, and walked away."

"I hope that's the end of it then."

Hitch nodded. "Me too."

Tully grinned and said, "Ya never know though. Hitch could be the Allies next secret weapon. You'd be able to tell High Command where the Germans were going to hit next."

Hitch shivered at the thought. "Don't even say that in jest, Tully."