The Aftermath of Failure Raid

By: AliasCWN

Chapter 6

"Sergeant Troy has him."

Moffitt looked up as Captain Dietrich stomped toward them. After arriving at the wadi where the convoy was reorganizing, the captain had left them with several guards while he searched for the colonel. The guards had tied them to the frame of a halftrack and stepped back out of reach.

"Where did he take the colonel?" The captain leaned down to talk to the prisoners. "Where is he?" The captain was barely able to control his emotions as the prisoners remained quiet. "Where is he?" he repeated.

"We were with you Captain."

"You know where he is," Dietrich growled in a fair imitation of Troy. "Tell me!"

Moffitt responded with a blank look.

"I could make you tell me."

Moffitt remained silent but he secretly believed that the captain might be willing to try.

Dietrich spun away, leaving the guards in charge of the prisoners. Moffitt glanced over at Tully as the officer stalked off.

"What's he up to Doc?" Tully whispered.

"I don't know," the Brit answered. "It's not like Dietrich to give up so easily."

"He's not much for torture," Tully answered. "He almost sounds like he might be willing to give it a try this time though." Tully glanced around at their guards, looking for an opportunity to get free before the captain decided to carry out his threat.

Throwing Tully a look that warned him against saying too much, the sergeant watched the German officer.

Tully passed the time by watching the Germans soldiers shift the cargo from the damaged trucks to the ones that had survived the attack. There were more of the former than there were of the latter, making their efforts doomed to defeat. They were going to have to leave a lot of their supplies behind unless they called for more trucks. He didn't see any cargo that seemed out of place though. It was looking more and more like the colonel was the only special cargo the Germans were transporting.

Moffitt's voice drew Tully's attention away from the convoy. "I think Dietrich just called for more trucks."

"Then we'll probably be here for a while," Tully nodded. "That should give Sarge more time to get away."

Moffitt glanced up to see if the guards were listening to them. It didn't seem as if any were interested in what they were saying. Just to be safe, he lowered his voice anyway. "I just hope they don't wait for us."

Tully bit down on his matchstick and nodded.

"Planning something Sergeant?"

Tully and Moffitt were surprised when Dietrich walked around the end of the halftrack. The sergeant threw Tully another warning look before pasting a smile on his face. "Just passing the time Captain."

"We are going for a little ride gentlemen. Please get to your feet."

The Brit smiled again. "Since you said please." He climbed stiffly to his feet. Tully followed, stepping back so he didn't bump into Moffitt.

They were freed from the frame of the halftrack but their hands remained bound. This time they were both shown to the rear of the same halftrack. Dietrich climbed into the front and waved to a young officer from the convoy. Another soldier pulled in behind the halftrack with their jeep.

"Are we allowed to know where you are taking us?" Moffitt asked after the two vehicles began to move.

"You tell me," Dietrich answered.

"Excuse me. How would we know?" Moffitt adopted his innocent look again.

"You can drop the act Sergeant. I spoke with Sergeant Troy. He said you could lead me to him."

Moffitt didn't have to feign his surprise. "Why would I do that?"

"Because I have arranged a prisoner swap, you and Private Pettigrew for the colonel. He said he was waiting for you and you could tell me where to go."

"Nice try Captain, but I have no idea what you are talking about."

Dietrich sighed. "Do I have to get Sergeant Troy on the radio again?"

"I think that might be a good idea," Moffitt agreed. "I'll wait."

"Very well." Dietrich ordered his driver to stop while he made a call to Troy. "You were correct Sergeant," he spoke into the radio as soon as Troy answered.

"Put Moffitt on."

Dietrich handed the headset to Moffitt. Moffitt accepted it and held it to his ear. "Troy?"

"We made a deal Moffitt. One halftrack will bring you to the place I told you about earlier. I give the colonel to Dietrich and I get you, Tully, and the jeep. I told him that you could lead him here."

"Understood. We'll see you soon." Moffitt handed the headset back to Dietrich. "Shall we be on our way?"

Dietrich made a face. "Which way Sergeant?"

Moffitt turned and pointed. "That way."

The halftrack started out again, this time following the sergeant's directions.

Troy turned off the radio and checked his prisoner.

"You would really trade a colonel for a sergeant and a private?" The colonel sounded genuinely surprised.

Troy nodded. "Like I told you Colonel, you were a target of opportunity, we don't need you."

The colonel lowered his head and hid a smile. "Thank you, Sergeant, that makes me feel so important."

Troy laughed. "I guess that depends on how you look at it, Colonel."

"How should I look at it, Sergeant?"

"Apparently you are important to Captain Dietrich. He's the one who made the call for the exchange."

This time it was the colonel who laughed. "I barely know the man. I think he is more worried about his career than my circumstances."

Troy shook his head as he looked at the colonel. "I think you're wrong Colonel. I have had dealings with the captain before so maybe I know him better than you do. I heard the tone of his voice. It's more than just his career that has him worried. He sounded as if this was personal, that doesn't usually happen. He likes to keep things professional. That tells me that he respects you, and he doesn't respect anyone without good reason. He gives his superiors their due, but no more. No, Colonel, he likes you."

The colonel sobered at Troy's assessment of the captain's attitude. "You respect him?"

"Sure, he's a good officer," Troy answered. "Don't you agree?"

"Actually, I do," the colonel answered. He shook his head. "I guess I can understand why others question his loyalty though. He does have an unusual relationship with your outfit."

"Not so much," Troy shrugged. "It's all based on mutual respect and honor. The captain is old school, honor is important to him. When it comes right down to it, we're still enemies. Someday he'll kill us or we'll kill him. Only a fool ignores the skills of an enemy. We just happen to share a belief that war doesn't have to be fought by barbarians. There are rules that should be followed. Your Major Alderbeck, he was one of the barbarians. Those kinds are just asking to get killed."

"I have to agree with you Sergeant, on all of it. Would it surprise you to know that Captain Dietrich said much the same thing? He even said much the same thing about you and your men."

Troy shook his head with a smile. "No, not really. We've had the time to discuss this on occasion when Dietrich was trying to figure us out. I'm just glad you don't have more officers like him. He gives us enough trouble."

When Hitch called that the halftrack and jeep were approaching, Troy and the colonel got to their feet.

"Now what Sergeant?"

"Now we make the trade Colonel. We have a deal."

"You seem confident that Captain Dietrich will keep his word."

Troy nodded. "Like I said Colonel, he's an honorable man. He gave his word, he'll keep it."

Hitch drove Troy and the colonel out to meet Dietrich. The halftrack stopped and Dietrich got out, followed by Tully and Moffitt. He ordered his man out and allowed Tully to drive the jeep toward Troy. He rode in the passenger seat while Moffitt stood in the back.

"How do you expect to get away?" the colonel asked as the second jeep approached them.

"A five-minute head start was part of the deal," the sergeant explained.

"Five minutes?"

"That's the deal."

When the jeep stopped next to Troy Dietrich climbed out of the vehicle. He nodded at Troy before turning his attention to the colonel.

"Dietrich."

"You are free to go Sergeant."

"A pleasure doing business with you Captain." Troy motioned for Tully to head out. "Can we give you a ride back to your halftrack?"

"We'll walk," the captain answered, "unless the colonel is not up to it." He glanced at the officer for his response.

"I am fine Captain, thank you for your concern. We can walk, I need the exercise before another long ride to the convoy."

"Suit yourself," Troy shrugged. He saluted the two officers and turned to go, "Nice meeting you Colonel." He slid into his seat and nodded at his driver. "Let's get out of here Hitch."

"Interesting men," Colonel Bittenbender remarked as they watched the two jeeps drive away.

"Yes," Dietrich replied dryly, "and frustrating."

"Aren't you going to go after them?"

"I gave them five minutes as part of the deal."

"But after that?"

"One halftrack against two jeeps would be suicide," Dietrich answered. "Not that it matters, five minutes is more than enough time for them to disappear into the desert. Their jeeps are small and agile, they can easily outrun a halftrack. Even our patrol cars are too clumsy to give them much of a challenge. They'll vanish into the hills without a trace."

"After riding with them, I don't doubt that for a moment."

"We should get you back to the convoy Colonel. The convoy commander is waiting for you. I believe you have a plane to catch."

"Before the sergeant and his men come back for me?"

"They won't be back," Dietrich answered, "Troy made a deal. His honor won't allow him to come after you again."

"Well, Captain, I must admit, this trip has turned out to be much more interesting than I ever expected."

"You are fortunate to have survived."

"I'm sure you are right Captain, but then, I don't believe the sergeant would kill an unarmed prisoner."

Dietrich gave the colonel a surprised look.

"It wouldn't be honorable," the colonel finished with a shrug.

Dietrich smiled, "No, no it wouldn't, Colonel." The captain escorted the colonel to the convoy and wished him a safe journey. This time he fully expected him to make his plane.

Troy and Hitch caught up to Tully and Moffitt and the two jeeps used the hills to conceal their location as they headed home. They stopped only once to cool the engines.

"Did you find out why the colonel was on Dietrich's base?"

Troy nodded at Moffitt's question. "Base inspections. He took the time to look into Major Alderbeck's failed operation. From what he said, it was a simple matter of curiosity. He talked to Dietrich about it and wanted to see the site for himself."

"Is he planning to take up where the major left off?"

Troy shrugged. "I think he just wondered where the major went wrong."

"At least we got the convoy."

Troy nodded. "That was our original assignment, so mission accomplished."

"Dietrich sent for more trucks to salvage what he can. The ammo and fuel are gone."

"Good work."

"Yeah, we got caught," Moffitt mumbled. "Troy. Why did you trade us for a colonel? Colonel Quint would have taken the colonel."

"I didn't feel like coming back for you," Troy grinned. "Besides, I needed the jeep. You know what Captain Boggs said he'd do if we lost another one. He had a fit the last time we lost one."

Moffitt shook his head and went to see if Tully needed any help.