A Collection of Secrets
By: AliasCWN
Chapter 1
Troy and Moffitt crowded around the table as Colonel Quint pointed at a map.
"The base is here. I know this is outside of your normal area of operation, but that's in our favor. The base commander may not realize who you are and that could work for us. Naturally, it would be better if you were not spotted at all, but I realize we don't have a lot of control over that part of this operation. Now this operation is in two parts. The first part of the mission is this; we need you to intercept a courier and switch his dispatch for one of ours. It is very important that he doesn't realize what you have done."
"I take it that we will be intercepting some of their information and replacing it with something we want them to know." Moffitt suggested. The sergeant lifted his eyes from the map and looked up into the face of the colonel.
"Yes Sergeant, that's correct," the colonel nodded. "The Germans have their top SS interrogator here in Africa collecting information from Allied prisoners. The information you are tasked with retrieving is the information he got from the latest captured officer. That information is too important to allow to fall into the hands of the Germans."
"That's why we have to switch it without them knowing," Troy guessed. "But won't they talk to each other and realize it doesn't match?"
"We're counting on that not happening until it is too late to matter. All we need is a week for the information to be outdated." The colonel picked up a picture of a German officer. He handed it to Troy. "This man, Major Bernard von Strauss is the best interrogator the Germans have used so far. He has an impressive record. They seem to be keeping him in North Africa to gather information. As long as we can prevent him from comparing notes with those above him, we may pull this off."
Troy and Moffitt both tried not to imagine how the officer got his answers. "How are we supposed to switch the information without the courier knowing we did something?"
"That's up to you Sergeant," the colonel answered. "You'll have to locate him before you can do anything. We know several of the routes he uses, but he changes them constantly. There is no way we can determine which one he will use when."
Troy frowned but didn't comment on the possible problems that news presented.
"I assume you will supply us with the alternate documents," Moffitt spoke before Troy could ask another question.
"Yes Sergeant," the colonel seemed relieved to move past his last point. "A few months ago we intercepted another of their couriers. We now have the courier bag and a sample of the documents. We have designed the replacement documents to look exactly like the originals, with the exception of the content. We have added just enough true information to make it seem genuine. You should be able to switch the entire bundle instead of sorting through it. To make it easier, we even added information we had on the local bases that the Germans will already know." The colonel looked over his shoulder at his lieutenant. "It has been suggested that the less time you hold onto the courier and the dispatch bag, the better. You're going to have to convince the courier that you didn't open the bag."
"Is that all?" Troy asked.
The colonel frowned at Troy's tone but didn't call him on it. "I know it's going to be tricky, but I'm sure you'll think of something. You always say you like doing things your own way, well, this is your chance."
"How do they seal the bag? Are we going to have to duplicate that too?" Moffitt opted for practical over pointing out the flaws with the plan.
"That shouldn't be a problem Sergeant," The colonel answered. "Major von Strauss has a reputation for self-promotion. He uses courier bags that are personalized. They all have his name engraved on them."
Troy and Moffitt exchanged glances.
"We have one of those bags," the colonel continued. "The documents will be sealed inside. All you have to do is switch bags."
Troy looked at Moffitt as an idea how it could be done occurred to him.
"But we don't have any idea which route he will use? Do we know when he'll be leaving the base? Which base he'll go to to deliver his dispatch?" Troy was looking at the map again.
"We know they avoid the roads," the colonel answered. "We also know they vary the route. We know several of the routes, but they may have more we don't know about. The courier usually rides a motorcycle so he can cut across the desert. You can miss him by being just a mile off course. And, he has been known to use a car on occasion, we can't rule that out."
"Then how are we supposed to locate him in time to intercept him?" Troy growled. "How do we even know when they send it out?"
"They caught the officer two days ago," the colonel explained. "He'll be delivered to Major von Strauss the day after tomorrow. The dispatch will go out the morning of the next day if he sticks to his usual schedule. That is the dispatch you need to intercept."
Troy nodded thoughtfully. "And Germans are usually punctual. That gives us something we can use." His tone suggested that he already had an idea for how to accomplish the mission.
"Then there is the second part of the mission," the colonel added.
Troy's head popped up; all thoughts of his plans put on hold. "What's the second part?"
"We want you to free the prisoners."
"Prisoners?" Troy replied, "More than one?"
"Yes, there will be two. The second one should arrive at the base the day after the first one. Hopefully they'll be sent on together and you can rescue them both at the same time. But you must get them both Sergeant."
"Yes sir," the sergeant nodded. "Do we have any plans of the base? We've never been there."
"No, we don't," the officer answered, "but the prisoners won't be kept on the base once they've been interrogated. The major makes it a habit to send them on to a POW camp as soon as he has what he wants. He usually sends them on to the camp the day after the dispatch goes out."
"How do they send the prisoners out?"
"A small convoy goes out with the prisoners kept in the rear of one of the trucks. There are two halftracks for security. Then there are two to four patrols cars with armed soldiers in them. They use the patrol cars to scout ahead." The officer straightened his back and looked at the sergeants. "You have hit similar convoys, so I am certain you can handle this one. Just make sure you bring the prisoners back, preferably alive."
"Are we taking a medical team with us?" Moffitt asked. "The prisoners may need medical care after their interrogation."
"That won't be necessary Sergeant. The major uses truth serums rather than the crude methods the Gestapo are known for. He's an expert with the drugs. So far, his record is perfect in that regard. The prisoners are quite often sent on to another camp where they are interrogated again, this time using the more brutal methods. Neither of these prisoners must reach that second camp."
"You aren't suggesting that we eliminate them if we can't rescue them?" Troy felt anger rise at the thought.
Colonel Quint sighed. "I hope it doesn't come to that Troy, but they must not reach that second camp. Do whatever you have to do."
"Yes sir."
"And Sergeant, this stays between us. The less your men know, the less they can tell if they are captured."
"They wouldn't talk Colonel."
"Not willingly," the colonel agreed, "but the major uses drugs. Your men wouldn't be given a choice in the matter."
Both sergeants agreed, especially since it was in the best interest of the privates.
"Colonel," Troy began, "what is the aim of all of this? What good is it going to do? We're intercepting the dispatch after the Germans already have the information. Are we supposed to intercept the second dispatch too?"
"No, Sergeant, just the first one. We'll deal with the Germans knowing the rest. We have time to alter any plans they discover if necessary."
"Then why not alter all of your plans? Why go after the dispatch at all?"
"That's need-to-know Sergeant. You don't need to know."
Troy nodded. "We'd better get going then. I'd like to take a little time to check out the area before that dispatch goes out."
"Sir, wouldn't it be better to rescue the prisoners before they are interrogated?" Moffitt asked.
"We already tried once Sergeant, and failed. The Germans doubled the guards as a result. With the tightened security we feel the odds are against us in that regard. We'll have to do it this way. Once the men are interrogated the Germans may relax a bit."
The Brit nodded. "I understand Sir."
"Requisition whatever you need and leave as soon as you are ready. I expect to see you back here with the original dispatch and both prisoners within a week. Good luck gentlemen." The colonel nodded to both sergeants and swept from the tent, leaving the sergeants to study the map.
"He's correct, you know." Moffitt spoke into the silence. "All we have to do is be off track by a mile and we miss the courier. They know the area and we don't, and we can't follow him and hope to intercept him. Once he spots us, he'll just outrun us."
"On a motorcycle?" Troy huffed.
"You can assume they'll be using narrow paths that benefit the courier."
"We can find a way around that," Troy answered, brushing off that concern. "How are we going to pull of the dispatch switch without raising suspicion? That's the part that has me puzzled."
"Lucky for us you like puzzles. You are good at them." Moffitt shook his head at the mission. "Don't forget, we also have to rescue two prisoners, and we don't know if they are going to be sent out together or separate. If we have to rescue one and go for the second, the Germans are going to be alerted."
"Yeah, I thought of that. We may have to split up."
"That won't help if they out on different days."
"That's the second part of the mission," Troy growled. "We have to carry out the first part before we even have to worry about the second." Troy stared at the map and shook his head again.
"One more thing," Moffitt asked, "what are you going to tell the lads? The Colonel told us not to tell them the details. It's going to be hard to capture a courier and let him escape without letting the lads know it's part of the plan."
"I don't know," Troy growled. "I guess I'll have to think of something."
"I hate keeping things from them. Tully insists that we do better when we all know what's going on. Knowing all of the facts makes it safer for all of us."
"I know," Troy nodded. "I don't like it either, but those are our orders. I'll tell them everything the first chance I get. It's not the same, but it's the best I can do." Troy looked over at Moffitt. "They'll understand."
"This is where trust comes in," Moffitt answered. "They'll go along with anything you tell them because they trust you."
"And I value that trust," Troy answered, "but they have to understand that sometimes I don't have a choice. This is one of those times."
"Of course," Moffitt agreed. "Have you any thoughts on how we can go about accomplishing this mission?"
"I have a few ideas, but I guess we'll have to see how it plays out before we make any concrete plans. Come on, we'll make out the requisition forms and Hitch and Tully can pick up the supplies while we talk things over."