Troy nodded thoughtfully as he listened to Moffitts suggestion, a destraction might just work. Croutching he drew a rough layout of the airfield. "It could work,' he said as he drew, 'If you and I get in tonight and lay some timed charges on the two towers here, and here . . ' he pointed at the two watch towers at either end of the landing field. "Along with placing some C2 on the heavy equipment, we can cause a heck of a lot of confusion, while moving in with the jeeps. I want to know what the Gestapo has hidden away in there as well, could be something we can use."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hitch studied the young soldier that was now under his watchful eye, the wan face, shivering, and dry skin indicated that he was working on a good case of sun stroke. Pulling a canteen, off one of the belts wrapped around the upright of the fifty cal, he climbed out of the jeep to rummage around in the back for the med kit they carried, pulling a vial of salt tablets out. Thomas was obviously badly dehydrated, and if they didn't get some water and a couple of salt tablets in him the kid was gong to keel over. Tucking the canteen under his arm he sauntered over to the other jeep. Pulling a packet of gum out of his pocket he held it out to Thomas "Here, try some of this, it'll help you work up some spit, make you feel a little better too."
Joined: 30 Aug 2011 Posts: 94 Location: North Africa
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:28 am Post subject:
"What about Thomas?" Moffitt asked, hesitating to use the kid's name, but he had to know. "What role do we have for him? You know that despite any help he gives us, if he fears for Dietrich's life, he's going to do everything to save him, even if he is purposefully trying to take himself out of this mission."
Moffitt liked the idea that Troy had devised and like his leader, he too wanted to know what the Gestapo had. Perhaps there was more going on here and perhaps Thomas even knew about it. Maybe that would explain his extreme nervousness.
Back in the jeep, Thomas watched as Hitch went to the back of the jeep. It would be easy for him to try and seize control of the jeep, but Thomas wasn't in the mood. These Americans weren't the monsters that they had been warned about. They seemed like normal people to Thomas and he had no thought whatsoever to harming any of them.
He shut his eyes and tried to block out his thoughts that were reminding him of how much he was betraying his own country by helping the Allies. Confusion filled his mind and he could no longer think about the sport he loved. Again Thomas shivered and tried to draw warmth from his tunic but found it inadequate.
When Hitch presented him with the gum, Thomas was confused and stared at it with barely open eyes. What could be seen, interest was very clear. Curiously Thomas took the gum. He only understood "try this" and "feel better". Truth be told, Thomas had never seen anything like this in his life. Curious these Americans were with their inventions.
Thomas sniffed it. If it was a pill, it was way too big. Thomas shook his head and tried to hand it back to Hitch. "No... kein drug." He looked at the water, desperately wishing his brain wasn't so stubborn and condemning him for wanting to live. But how could he live with this betrayal?
----------------------------------->
In his quarters, Dietrich rested on his bed, thankful for the peace and quiet that finally reached him. Unending chaos reigned the headquarters and for once, Dietrich was overjoyed that he was not the highest ranking individual here and merely had to keep his unit handy in case they needed to move out. The constant waging of war had taken a toll on all the men and despite all his efforts, Dietrich wound up ill.
It was only inevitable. So many were getting sick and with the supplies getting cut off by the desert patrols, many more were dying. Thankfully, Dietrich knew that he had nothing exceptionally serious. Still, who wanted to be sick?
As Dietrich let sleep pull him somewhere much nicer, he was only vaguely aware of the arrival of the Gestapo. Had he known of this, the chances of his rest being peaceful would have been virtually nil.
~ _________________ Characters: Hauptmann Dietrich, Pvt Thomas Hartmann, Hauptsturmführer Erich Wiesenland, Hauptmann Arnulf Rosenthal, and Rudy the lizard.
Hitch sighed as Thomas pushed the profered treat away worried that it was some kind of drug. "No, its not a drug, no trick, it's gum you chew it." In demonstration Hitch took a strip from the pack and popped it into his chewing for a moment he causually blew a bubble, popping it and then deftly returning the residue to his mouth to resume chewing. "See? It helps to keep your mouth moist and it tastes good too." He offered the gum again with a lopsided grin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Troy shot Moffitt a shocked look, "What do you mean he's deliberately trying to take himselft out of the mission?"
Standing he brushed the sand from his knees and took a hard look at the kid, he was pale, and shivered as if cold but more importantly he was not sweating. Troy swore and looked back at Moffitt "Come with me." he snarled stalking in Thomas' direction. He was going to put an end to this once and for all, the last thing he needed on his plate was a sick, possiblely suicidal German POW on his hands. Coming to a halt infront of the boy, Troy looked briefly at Hitch, "Go relieve Tully." he said to his driver, taking the canteen and packet of salt tablets from him.
Hitch hesitated for just a moment, seeing the anger in his CO's eyes he knew that descretion was the better part of valor and stealing a glance at Moffitt hurried to comply with Troy's order.
Without looking at Moffitt, Troy said tersely "Tell him exactly what I'm going to say." Troy glared at the boy his face hard, eyes cold "I don't give a damn if your Captain is in there, I have a job to do. He knows the risks out here just like the rest of us. Just like the rest of us he doesn't want to be out here frying his tail off in this damned desert, but he's a soldier and a soldier follows orders. Now you can either co-operate or I can shoot you right now."
Slowly he unsnapped the flap to the holstered forty-five on his hip, and prayed the kid would snap to, because if he called his bluff he didnt know what he would do.
Joined: 30 Aug 2011 Posts: 94 Location: North Africa
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:20 pm Post subject:
Watching Hitch with renewed interest, Thomas came to trust this thing called "gum". If it was okay for Hitch, then it couldn't be a trick. Taking the gum, Thomas again gave it a sniff. He watched Troy's approach and quickly put the gum in his mouth. Maybe if he was busy chewing he wouldn't have to talk to this American. He was rather bothersome.
Thomas hated seeing Hitch leave, especially since Thomas hadn't been able to thank him for the gum. He tried to call out with a hoarse voice, "Aber...danke..."
Troy's tone and glare caused Thomas to shiver involuntarily. He looked at Moffitt for help and saw with dismay that Moffitt didn't look happy either. Truth was, Moffitt hated having to say the last part of Troy's message. He knew better than to question Troy, for he knew that his sergeant only meant well, but at the same time, he feared Thomas's stubbornness.
Seeing the look of pure defiance in Thomas's eyes only confirmed Moffitt's fears. Thomas would rather die than betray his captain.
Knowing that it would put Troy in a very awkward situation and possibly end someone's life, Moffitt added, "What about your mother, Thomas? Think of her. You told me that you are the eldest and her only son. Your father died years ago. Wouldn't it break your mother's heart for you to die out here? Is your love for the Fuhrer more important than that of your mother?"
Thomas's eyes lit up and he looked at Moffitt with sudden realisation and anger. He spat, "Scheiss der Führer! Ich liebe meine Mutter! Mutti..." Thomas's eyes welled with tears and he began crying weakly, though tears couldn't fall. He suddenly grasped Moffitt's arm and clung to him.
Moffitt's expression didn't soften as he asked, "Will you follow us then?"
Thomas nodded, but added softly, "Ich habe Angst."
Moffitt smiled and patted his shoulder. "I know, I know." To Troy, he said in English, "I'm sorry Troy, I had to add on to what you said. He's German all right, stubborn and dedicated. I just reminded him of his mother and how she would react to his death."
He then relieved Troy of the canteen and offered it to Thomas, who spat out the gum and then, without hesitation, took the canteen and began eagerly drinking it down. He could hardly be parted from it now as his instincts kicked in as did his desire to live. Water had never tasted so good.
~ _________________ Characters: Hauptmann Dietrich, Pvt Thomas Hartmann, Hauptsturmführer Erich Wiesenland, Hauptmann Arnulf Rosenthal, and Rudy the lizard.
Troy hid his relief behind a stone mask, re-snapping the holster he nodded. "I dont care if you had to tell him that the moon was made of green cheese, as long as he isn't going to fight us any more. Damn it Moffitt, you know I didn't want to have to shoot the kid, but . . ." Troy shook his head, sighed and walked away a few feet. Looking back at his friend he said softly "Damn I hate this war." Looking down to the sand for a moment, then looked back up regret locked away behind stone walls, he was all soldier again. "Find out the kid can tell us about the base. I'll be up top." he nodded at the ridge line were Tully and Hitch kept watch. He glanced at his watch, "We got about six hours before sundown. Climbing slowly up the sandy ridge he waived the two privates to him. "Go on down and get some sleep we're going to be busy tonight."
"What about you Sarge?" Tully asked looking suspiciously at his CO, if he knew Troy, the man wouldn't sleep until the whole mission was over, and he could tell by the way he moved that the broken rib was giving him more than a little trouble.
Troy glared at the Kentuckian "I'm fine, I'll catch a couple of hours later."
Tully threw Troy a 'Yeah right' look but followed after Hitch down the back of the dune.
Hitch paused by Moffitt and Thomas, the kid he noted, was sucking down water like he hadn't drunk in days, which more than likely wasn't too far off the truth. Pulling the packet of gum out again he called to the soldier and tossed it to the boy before heading to his bedroll.
Tully on the other hand walked over to Moffitt, looking pointedly back up at the still form of Troy crouched in the shadow of some low rocks. Pulling the ever present matchstick from his mouth he asked in a low tone "What's eating the Sarge? He's wound tighter than my pappy's watch."
Joined: 29 Aug 2011 Posts: 57 Location: North Africa
Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 1:46 am Post subject:
Moffitt could share his friend's sentiment. War could be hell. Seeing Troy slip, as it were, was something rare and Moffitt was a bit surprised. "Right" he replied when the leader told him to talk to Thomas again.
"I don't know, Tully." He shrugged. "Maybe the war is catching up with him" he said quietly. It was a bad thought but he felt like he should say it.
While the others were busy he went over to see how the young German was doing. "Better?" he asked, leaning up against the jeep. _________________ "Shall we spread a little alarm and despondency?" ~S2:E9
Last edited by JackMoffitt on Sat Oct 15, 2011 4:09 am; edited 1 time in total
Tully shuddered at Moffitts words, the thought of the war "catching up" with Troy un-nerved him. Despite everthing they had been through the "Sarge" was the stability in this insanity called war, nothing seemed to phase Sam Troy, he took it all in stride, and worked with what he was given no matter the circumstances whether it was getting help from a a German aid station for Hitch or Moffitt, rescuing POW's or thwarting the best laid plains of Deitrich and the Third Reich, nothing seemed to slow him down.
"Okay Sarge whatever you say, but I got a bad feelin' about this whole mission." He said to Moffitt at the Sergeant moved in the direction of the German prisoner. Tully shook his head and headed over to where his bed roll was laid out, he might sleep but he doubted he would rest at all.
Joined: 30 Aug 2011 Posts: 94 Location: North Africa
Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 7:35 am Post subject:
Thomas took only short breaks when he drank from the canteen. He hardly tasted the salt tablet that Troy had added to it. Water was water and quite honestly, anything that didn't taste of iodine was an improvement. When Moffitt asked his question, Thomas swallowed his water and nodded a little.
"Better" was relative. Troy reminded Thomas too much of some of the officers in the Third Reich, only, he had never seen any of them pull a gun on any of their soldiers. He had heard stories about it happening in the Waffen-SS and well, if Troy had been Gestapo, there wouldn't have been the question, it just would have happened and Thomas would be dead.
The more he thought on Troy threatening to shoot him over his reluctance to live after betraying his officer, the more Thomas became angry. If the Americans were such heroes, why would Troy resort to Nazi tactics? War was nothing but lies. Still, at least he could show that not all Germans were heartless killers as Thomas was certain that Moffitt and Troy had been brainwashed to believe.
Digging in his front pocket, Thomas pulled out a small thing of morphine and handed it to Moffitt. "When I told the doctor that I had to go with you, he gave this to me in case my side should start to bother me again. I think your sergeant needs it more than me."
Thomas was determined to show that he was a kind person, unlike Troy who seemed to get his way by sheer force, which only proved everything that the Reich said about the Americans to be true. Just how could he trust the Americans? Moffitt he could trust... but Troy? Thomas feared what would happen when they got to the air station. Would Troy just see it fit to execute him before he could do anything? Even if he wasn't going to try and foil their plans, Thomas knew that Troy was going to kill him.
~ _________________ Characters: Hauptmann Dietrich, Pvt Thomas Hartmann, Hauptsturmführer Erich Wiesenland, Hauptmann Arnulf Rosenthal, and Rudy the lizard.
The sun had been down for several hours and with the fading of the light so had the warmth of the day fled. The nignt was crystal clear, stars were hard bright pin picks in the blue black sky, the moon just past full frosted the rolling sand dunes with its cold, white light.
Troy stood still, shirt off, teeth grit together in part to keep them from chattering in the cold and part in pain as Tully carefully wrapped his ribs, the faded mottling of dusky purples, and sickly yellowish-greens evidence of his run it with the burly German POW a week ago. He hissed as the private pulled the wrapping tight. "Take it easy." He snapped
Tully pause and regarded the smaller man. "Sarge you should 'a had the Doc look at this before we headed out."
Troy smiled, the simple action softening the hard planes of the mans face, showing a brief glimpse of the man beneath the hard exterior. "Don't you go mother-henning me now Tully."
Gingerly Troy pulled a black knit sweater over his head, wincing as he did so, missing the concerned look Tully tossed toward Moffitt.
Hitch sitting with on hip cocked up on the hood of his jeep, thompson resting across his thigh kept watch as the two senior men readied themselves for their foray into the german camp. Occaissionally he would check on Thomas, the attitude of the younger man had changed sutblely.
Troy rubbed boot black onto his face, neck and the backs of his hands, along with the black sweater, he wore black ripcord pants, and a black knit watch cap in place of his customary Bush hat. Blackening applied; he quickly inventoried a dark colored napsack, checking C2, prima cord, timers, tripwire and frag grenades, was well as extra clips for the Thompson slung over his left shoulder in case things should get sticky.
Turning to Moffitt he cocked an eye brow "What info were you able to get from the kid?"[/i]
Joined: 30 Aug 2011 Posts: 94 Location: North Africa
Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 3:52 pm Post subject:
Even with the questions that Moffitt asked, which Thomas put on a display of stubbornness and reluctance at some, if only to show that he was still trying to put up a resistance to the Allies, Thomas didn't want to stray far from Moffitt. Just because Hitch offered him that thing called "gum" didn't make him his friend. He was American and Americans had lied to Germany in the past and Thomas wouldn't put it past any of them to offer the hand of friendship whilst getting ready to betray him, again.
At least with the English, things were straight-forward.
In their talk, Thomas revealed how many were posted at the gate, since he was a driver and commonly had to go through them. In addition, being a convoy driver also gave him knowledge on just where certain buildings were, such as the barracks, the air strip itself, munitions, and best of all, the mess hall, though Moffitt seemed less interested in this. Just where headquarters were, Thomas would not reveal. If he knew for a fact that Dietrich wasn't going to be there and only the Gestapo, Thomas would have gladly given them the information. Even Dietrich showed slight fear of them.
If pressed though, Thomas was willing to point out a different building. No way was he going to give up his Captain, even if Troy was going to shoot him. And if he did, Thomas thought with a wry sniff, it would just drive home the point that all Americans were glory-seeking cowboys with a mock sense of righteousness.
When Moffitt left him, Thomas curled up on the sand and put his hand over his head, as he often did to block out the sand that blew around. Thomas longed for a proper bed. Soon his thoughts quieted and he was able to revisit his football dreams in which he started mumbling in his sleep.
"Pass it... here!" Thomas whimpered. "Nein, nein, nein... give our keeper nothing to do! Here!"
~ _________________ Characters: Hauptmann Dietrich, Pvt Thomas Hartmann, Hauptsturmführer Erich Wiesenland, Hauptmann Arnulf Rosenthal, and Rudy the lizard.
Joined: 29 Aug 2011 Posts: 57 Location: North Africa
Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:55 pm Post subject:
This whole mission was truly insane and Moffitt didn't like the way things were shaping up one bit, but like a good soldier he rarely question orders. At least not out loud. Thomas's actions made it obvious that he mistrusted the rest of the patrol. Which didn't make all of this easier for the Englishman personally. It was tricky playing the middleman. After their talk, Moffitt went back over to the other Sergeant.
He gave Troy a nod and preceded to fill him in on the details of where the buildings were. He had secretly found it slightly amusing at how much Thomas liked the mess hall even though it wasn't that important to the mission. "I never got their headquarters. He refuses to give that information up because of Dietrich. He's extremely loyal to him." As Moffitt finished, he mentally rechecked what he had heard to make sure he hadn't missed anything.
That's when he recalled the morphine. At the time he had stuck it in his pocket before preceding in questioning Thomas. "He wanted me to give this to you. Said you needed it more than he did." Moffitt handed the vial over. "It's morphine" he added before he was asked. He kept his expression indescribable and wondered if Troy would actually use it. If anything the gesture might help ease the tension between the young German and the patrol leader. _________________ "Shall we spread a little alarm and despondency?" ~S2:E9
Last edited by JackMoffitt on Sat Oct 15, 2011 11:16 pm; edited 1 time in total
Troy looked at the small ampule in his hand, and grimaced, as much as he might need it, now was not the time, he needed a clear head tonight. Closing his hand over it, he walked back over to where the young man was sleeping. Crouching, he touched Thomas lightly on the shoulder, and waited for the boy's eyes to open.
Looking at the boy for a moment he smiled sadly and pushed the ampule into Thomas' hand "Thanks, but you hold on to it for me, dont' worry about your Captain, he can take care of himself." standing he looked at Moffitt "You ready to move out?"
Joined: 30 Aug 2011 Posts: 94 Location: North Africa
Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 10:50 pm Post subject:
If there was anything that Thomas was known for that didn't have to do with football, it was his ability to fall into a deep sleep no matter the circumstance. Laying on the soft sand, it didn't take Thomas long to drift out of his football reverie and sink into a peaceful rest. He lay there very still for a time so when Troy came up to him, Thomas didn't even feel his presence there.
It would take a good shaking to lure Thomas out of the sleep this time, for he had exhausted himself fighting to kill himself and then to live. When Thomas did finally awaken and he saw the morphine given back, Thomas wasn't entirely sure what to think. At first he wanted to believe that Troy simply didn't trust him, but then he thought about his Captain.
Would Dietrich take morphine in a time like this? Probably not. Thomas slipped it back in his tunic pocket. Hopefully no one would need it on this mission. Maybe the only one he'd have to give it to was Dietrich.
Patiently Thomas waited in the jeep for Moffitt's instructions. If there was any other reason that Thomas trusted Moffitt over the others, it was for the sheer fact that Moffitt spoke fluent German.
~ _________________ Characters: Hauptmann Dietrich, Pvt Thomas Hartmann, Hauptsturmführer Erich Wiesenland, Hauptmann Arnulf Rosenthal, and Rudy the lizard.
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