Chapter 1 – Unwelcome Surprises

The sky was dark and moonless, black clouds scudded across the sky obscuring the stars and a strong wind blew spray off the tops of the choppy waves. Seagulls soared across the sky with motionless wings outstretched as they rode the air currents. The birds veered and alarm squawks rang out as the deep, throbbing sound of three Packard M-2500 petrol engines grew louder. The foamy bow-wave of the seventy-one foot MGB 75 subsided as the boat slowed to a halt, its hull settled lower in the water and the craft rolled from side to side as the waves hit it side-on.

Garrison pulled the collar of his heavy coat up around his neck and shivered as he watched his men help the crew lower a rubber inflatable dinghy over the side and toss in their mission bags. He turned as the commander of the gunboat approached from the wheelhouse. "We're about a mile out, I've taken you in as close as I dare Lieutenant. If there wasn't the danger of mines we could have gone in much further, we've only got a five foot draught and I could have taken you almost to the beach. The Jerries have laid the damn things all along the French coast."

Garrison gave the young officer a smile. "You'd think they didn't want any visitors." He clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry we'll make it from here."

The commander squinted up at the dark sky. "You sure you can find your way in all this Lieutenant?"

Garrison watched his scout jump agilely into the dinghy and take his place at the bow. "I've got my compass right there, we won't get lost." He turned and shook the commander's hand. "See you in a few days."

Actor reached up, held out a hand and steadied Garrison as he jumped into the small craft, the two men sat down, picked up their oars and the team set to rowing steadily in the direction of the French coast. Fifteen minutes later Chief held up a hand. "Stop rowin'," he hissed.

Actor pulled his oar out of the water. "What is it Chief?"

The scout's voice came urgently back on the wind. "Mine."

"Your what?" croaked Goniff as he leaned against the side of the dinghy.

"Not 'his' anythin' Limey, MINE!" yelled Casino as he caught sight of the ominous shape bobbing just ahead in the choppy waves.

"Oh crap!" moaned Goniff, he was fighting sea-sickness and this was the last straw, he leaned over the side and fed the fishes.

"Chief?" Garrison peered through the darkness at the inky sea and struggled to see anything.

Chief lifted his arm and waved to the right. "Head that way." As the team started paddling again he reached out and carefully fended off a large, round, grey metallic object, the team watched in horror as the menacing object slid past and disappeared into the darkness.

Casino let out a huge sigh and wiped his brow. "Jeeesus, that was close."

Goniff had been hanging over that side of the dinghy and was treated to a very close view of the deadly mine as it slid past inches from him, he turned and gave Garrison a fearful look, his eyes were like saucers, his face was white, he was visibly shaking and it wasn't from the cold. "What the hell were those things stickin' out of it?"

Garrison shifted in his seat and dipped the blade of his oar back in the water. "Those are Hertz Horns, they're made out of lead, each one holds a glass ampoule full of acid and an electric battery. If we'd knocked one of those horns the ampoule would have broken, the acid would've been released to energise the battery, complete the circuit and set off a detonator."

"In other words, kaboom baby 'n we'd be fish food along with your breakfast," added Casino, he looked behind them. "Is it gonna follow us?"

Garrison shook his head. "No that thing is anchored, it can't move."

"Thank God for small mercies," said Actor hoarsely, he leaned forward and patted Chief on the back. "Well spotted Chief."

Casino nodded. "Keep up the good work Geronimo, don't want no more unwelcome surprises like that, I wanna get home in one piece."

"I'll be happy to just reach the shore," moaned Goniff as he picked up his oar and joined his team mates in paddling the dinghy.

Chief's sharp eyes scanned ahead and he made out the faint outline of the waves breaking against the shore. "Not far to go Goniff, maybe a hundred yards or so, we'll soon have you on dry land."

The thief gave a grateful sigh. "Those are the best words I've heard all day."

GG-GG-GG

The team made landfall on a long, bleak strip of sand, Actor, Casino and Goniff dragged the dinghy up the beach while Garrison followed obliterating any sign of drag marks. Chief was ranging ahead picking out a safe route through the wooden obstacles strewn along the beach, they were covered in vicious-looking barbed wire and made an effective barrier to gaining access to the sand dunes a short distance away. Huge concrete blocks had also been placed close together to prevent large vehicles such as tanks from gaining access and making progress inland.

The sky was starting to get lighter as Actor and Casino finished hiding the dinghy in the sand, they collapsed and watched Garrison as he pulled a map out of his mission bag and spread it on the ground. Casino stretched out his legs, placed the heel of each booted foot on the two corners closest to him to hold the map down and leaned back on his elbows. "So where are we Warden?"

Garrison pointed to a spot on the map. "We're about here, Boulogne is north of us." He looked up. "Chief?"

The scout removed a piece of dune grass that he'd had in his mouth and pointed to his right. "I reckon we're a couple miles south of Boulogne," he indicated behind him with a thumb. "Had a quick look inland 'n there's nothin' but sand dunes 'n scrub."

Garrison nodded, placed a finger on the coastline and moved it a short distance. "Okay, we're here on the Plage d'Écault, we're meeting our contact in Saint-Étienne-au-Mont, a commune just three miles north-east of here as the crow flies. There aren't many roads and the Krauts will most probably have them well patrolled so we'll be going cross-country." He glanced up. "All clear Chief?"

Chief was standing a short distance away intently scanning their surroundings and keeping a lookout, he nodded. "Uh huh, can't see no problems except those Kraut patrols 'n we can avoid 'em easy."

Casino tilted his head at Chief. "Don't you worry Warden, Geronimo'll get us there safe 'n sound like always."

Actor let out a soft snort. "I remember a time when you questioned Chief's ability to find his own backside with two hands and a map!"

The safecracker gave a short laugh as he looked at Chief's amused expression. "Hell, that was ages ago before I got to know him, you know where your ass is now don't ya Geronimo?"

Chief took the grass out of his mouth and nodded. "Sure do, I know where yours is as well Pappy, saved it often enough."

Actor laughed. "And kicked it quite a few times too."

"Knock it off guys." Garrison smiled to himself as he remembered that incident and considered the camaraderie that had grown between the men who'd once been antagonists and were now true friends and, yes, thick as thieves. He folded up the map, put it back in his mission bag and rose to his feet. "Let's get going before it gets too light." He glanced down at the pathetic figure curled up on the ground. "Come on Goniff, up you get."

Goniff groaned from his prone position in the sand, his colour was beginning to come back and his stomach wasn't feeling as bad. "Oh come on Warden, ten more minutes."

Garrison put his hand on his hip and looked down at the unhappy man. "Move it Goniff, that's an order."

Actor and Casino both reached a hand down and hauled the stricken thief to his feet. "Come on Limey, suck it up 'n walk it off, you'll be okay," said Casino unsympathetically as he brushed sand off Goniff's back.

"I'm gonna die," mumbled the thief as he picked up his bag and followed the team, his feet dragging and head down in abject misery.

"Well, please do it quietly," retorted Actor as he swung his mission bag over his shoulder. "We don't want the Germans to hear you."

GG-GG-GG

The cross-country march to Saint-Étienne-au-Mont was completed without incident, there was the occasional patrol driving along the roads but Chief heard them coming long before they got close and made sure they weren't seen. The distant drone of aircraft signalled the comings and goings of spotter planes but they were far away concentrating on the sea and not the land.

Just outside the village Garrison told the team to stay hidden as he and Chief went to the rendezvous site. Just before they got there Garrison sensed his scout leave his side to fade away into their surroundings from where he could keep a close eye on the meeting and look out for approaching danger, he strode confidently in the direction of the ramshackle barn where the meeting was to take place.

The contact was waiting just inside the entrance to the building, he took a step out cautiously as Garrison approached, half raised his rifle and signalled for the American to stop. Garrison stood nonchalantly and regarded the stocky, swarthy Resistance fighter knowing that if he raised his weapon by even one more inch it would be the last thing he did. He took a deep breath and spoke. "Lincoln."

The Frenchman relaxed. "Washington. Garrison?"

The American nodded. "Raoul?"

Now that recognition codes had been exchanged and identities established, Raoul lowered his rifle. "I was not expecting you to be on your own Lieutenant, where are your men?"

Garrison nodded back the way he'd come. "They're back there waiting for my signal and I'm not alone."

Raoul frowned. "You are with someone? Where is he?"

"Right behind you friend." The Frenchman froze as a quiet voice spoke in his ear. Chief emerged from the barn behind him and silently paced over to stand by Garrison, he folded up his blade and tucked it into the leather sheath on his right forearm. "All clear Warden, no-one else around."

Garrison nodded and looked at the Frenchman. "Raoul, meet Chief, my scout."

Raoul was subjected to a menacing glare, he shifted uncomfortably and tried to make himself seem as harmless as possible as the dark-haired man satisfied himself he was no threat.

After a few moments Garrison tilted his head back down the way they'd come "Go get the others." Chief nodded and loped away down the track.

Raoul looked around in bewilderment. "Absolument incroyable. There is only one entrance to that barn, I did not see him, how did he get in?"

Garrison shrugged. "That's Chief for you, I don't ask how he does it, all I know is he's damned good at it."

Chief trotted back into view followed by the rest of the team. Garrison turned to Raoul and waved a hand. "Shall we go to the safe house?"

GG-GG-GG

The safe house was on the outskirts of the village, Raoul lead the way, Garrison followed behind with Chief in his usual spot just off his right shoulder, the scout constantly scanned the area but seemed unconcerned, they were closely followed by Actor, Goniff and Casino. As they approached the building Chief's head flew up, he suddenly stopped and reached out a hand to stop Garrison. "Somethin ain't right."

Everyone halted. "What's up Geronimo?" queried Casino as he reached for his gun.

Garrison looked around. "What is it Chief?" he asked quietly.

Chief nodded towards the house. "American cigarettes. We meetin' up with anyone Warden?"

Garrison shook his head. "No." He glared at Raoul. "What's going on, who's in there?"

The Frenchman shrugged. "It is okay, it is an American team waiting to be taken out, you are with the English Special Forces yes? Maybe they did not tell you about them."

Garrison nodded. "Alright, lead the way." He heard the quiet snick as Chief's blade slide into his hand and opened, even if what Raoul said was true the scout wasn't going to be caught by surprise.

Garrison stepped into the main room and looked at the other team he counted four, three of them were wounded and resting quietly, his gaze carried on and stopped dead. "What the...?"

Chief quickly stepped to one side and watched as a man glanced up and did a double-take. "Garrison, you bastard!" he yelled as he quickly rose, raised a fist and hurled himself across the room. Before he was half-way a dark-haired figure cannoned into him and hurled him against a wall, a pair of unblinking, brown eyes bored into his and he felt a sharp blade at his throat.

Goniff put down his bag. "Hello to you too mate, we wasn't expecting such a warm greeting."

Casino waved a finger in the assailant's direction. "Who's the welcome wagon Warden?"

Garrison looked at his men. "None of you got to meet him. Remember when I took Chief, Goniff and Navajo 4 to Hamburg in the Dragon to rescue a stranded team?"

Actor nodded. "They knocked you out, took the Dragon and left everyone else behind to fend for themselves."

Garrison nodded, his voice was low and menacing. "This was the man commanding that team, Captain Lucas."

"It's Lieutenant Lucas now, thanks to you," spat the furious soldier as he tried to throw off the man holding him. Chief held the man's collar tighter, his blade dug in a little deeper as he gave him a quick shake and slammed him against the wall again.

Actor drew in a deep breath. "General Fremont's nephew? I thought he was in jail for what he did."

Goniff grimaced and snorted. "So ya got a demotion instead of a jail sentence did ya? Pays to have a General as yer uncle don't it?"

Lucas struggled once more and felt the pressure of the blade point as it dug deeper, a thin trickle of blood trickled down his neck. Chief's quiet voice held the promise of more pain to come. "Easy friend, I'm one o' those you left behind so you better be quiet 'n stay still."

Actor glanced at the thin-faced man noting his features. "I heard you broke his nose. It looks like you did a good job."

Casino wandered over, peered closely at the man's face and his own broke into a grin. "Oh yeah, that baby's all over the place, nice work Warden always said you had a great right hook."

Goniff walked over, for once his face was angry and his blue eyes were icy. "Yeah, couldn't have happened to a nicer fella. I was one of those left behind too mate so don't try nothin' round me neither."

Chief's eyes were fixed on Lucas. "Any of these other men with him when it happened Warden?"

Garrison looked around. "No, this must be a new team."

One of the wounded men stirred, his shoulder was heavily bandaged and his arm was in a sling. "Actually it's my team," he stood up stiffly and shuffled over. "Captain Eckhardt."

Garrison saluted. "Lieutenant Garrison. May I ask what happened Sir?"

One of the other men stirred. "Ask that damned coward over there what happened, he got two good men killed. Do us all a favour and slit his throat he deserves it!"

"Evans. Enough, save your strength." Eckhardt nodded towards the door. "Can we go outside and talk Garrison?"

"Yes Sir." Garrison glanced over at Actor. "Can you check the wounded men? Casino, get Lucas tied up. Chief go outside and check the area for patrols."

Casino stepped forward. "I'll do that with pleasure Warden 'n I'm sure Goniff'll wanna help. You go 'n have a nice talk with the Captain." He waited until Garrison and Eckhardt had gone outside, counted to ten, whirled round and planted a solid punch in Lucas' stomach, he smiled grimly as the man grunted and doubled over with pain. The safecracker leaned forward and spoke quietly in Lucas' ear, as he talked his New York accent grew stronger showing how angry he was. "That's what ya get when ya mess with my friends ya crumb. Just 'cos ya got a General for an uncle don't cut no ice with me, I ain't army, capish?" He and Goniff dragged the semi-conscious man into a corner and hog-tied him as tightly as they could without cutting off his circulation.

GG-GG-GG

Outside Garrison waited as Eckhardt sat on a stump and tried to make himself comfortable, he looked back at the safe house. "So you're the one who had the run-in with Lucas and got him demoted." It was a statement, not a question.

Garrison nodded. "Yes Sir, but it was his actions that got him demoted not me. He should have been court-martialled for cowardice and sent to Leavenworth for what he did."

The captain sighed. "I heard all about it but General Fremont pulled some strings, Lucas got a slap on the wrist and he didn't go to prison, he became my problem instead. I tell you Garrison, Lucas is an entitled, arrogant, insubordinate young man who feels the rules don't apply to him because of his connections. He's been a pain in my side since I got him and, to tell you the truth, I've been tempted to shoot him myself."

Garrison frowned. "That won't go any further than me, Sir."

Eckhardt sighed. "That whole damn family is trouble. Weren't you and your team under the General's command at one time? What happened?"

Garrison sat down, took out a packet of cigarettes, offered one and lit them. "Yes we were, the General didn't like the fact that my team are cons. He did everything he could to send them back to prison. Chief built up a relationship with Major Richards of the British Commandos, together they set up the Navajos, teams of specially trained personnel who could carry out covert missions like us. The Major wanted Chief to transfer over to his chain of command, he said he wouldn't unless he could take the team with him."

Eckhardt blew out a cloud of smoke. "That's loyalty, he could have looked out for himself and left you. I've heard about you and your men, are they really that good?"

Garrison smiled. "Yes Sir. They're somewhat unique and very unconventional but they get the job done alright."

The captain dropped his cigarette and ground it out with his boot. "And all hand-picked by you? I wish I'd had that luxury."

Garrison stubbed out his cigarette. "I didn't consider it a luxury at the time, I'd suggested the idea but I thought someone else would be put in charge of them, I'm glad it worked out as it did." He looked up and saw Chief standing by a tree watching them, he gave his scout a questioning look and got a nod before he melted away back into the trees. Eckhardt turned to follow Garrison's gaze to see nothing. "That was Chief giving me the all-clear, he's good at reconnoitring," explained Garrison, he brought his level gaze back to Eckhardt. "May I ask what happened to you and your team?"

Eckhardt hunched forward, rested his forearms on his legs and looked at the ground, he sighed deeply. "We had orders to break into a German communications facility twenty miles south of here in Montreuil and get copies of their latest codes and cyphers so our boffins back home could monitor what the Krauts were up to. We broke into the building and things were going well until a German security patrol turned up unexpectedly, I ordered the men to hide but Lucas panicked, started firing and ran like the coward he is. Things got out of hand, we ended up in a firefight and had to make good our escape without getting what we went in for, it was lucky we had two cars with us because Lucas took one for himself. We caught up with him in Samer, luckily Raoul found us and brought us here to hide while he arranged our escape. I lost two good men in the confusion and the rest of us are injured, Frazer has a head wound, Evans is hurt the worst he took a couple of bullets to his back and hip and can't walk."

Garrison couldn't believe his ears, he shook his head at the stupidity of sending Lucas back into action, Fremont had a lot to answer for. "Are you sure your men were killed?"

Eckhardt sighed. "I don't know, I assume so. They went down during the gun fight but I can't be sure. Do you think they could still be alive?"

Garrison offered another cigarette which the Captain took gratefully. "The one thing I've learned with my men is to never give up hope that things can turn out alright."

Eckhardt waited for Garrison to light the cigarettes, took a deep draw and blew out a cloud of smoke. "Can I ask what you're doing here Lieutenant?"

Garrison hesitated for a second and then decided he could trust the wounded Captain. "Our orders are to infiltrate German Headquarters in Boulogne and photograph the plans for all the coastal defences from Calais down to Le Havre. They should show the positions of minefields both out at sea and on the beaches as well as where gun emplacements are positioned and their fields of fire. It's vitally important to the Allied invasion plans to know what they're up against."

Eckhardt gave a short laugh. "The Krauts will be on high alert after our botched operation in the area and you think you're just going to waltz in, take photographs and waltz back out again with no trouble?"

Garrison nodded. "That's the idea, we've done it before haven't we Chief?"

"That's right Warden." Eckhardt jumped as he heard a quiet voice directly behind him, he hadn't heard anyone approach.

Chief walked around to stand next to Garrison. "No Krauts for miles. Found two cars hidden down the track 'bout half a mile from here, one's shot to pieces, won't be any good for the mission but the other one's fine. I'll transfer over the gas 'n bring it down when you're ready to go."

Eckhardt's expression was one of disbelief. "We hid those cars so no-one could find them!"

Garrison smiled. "Told you he was good."