The General walked up to me, stopping in front of me. "Lieutenant John Richards, for service for the Army, your squad, your country, plus the recent rescue. Washington and command have promoted you from First Lieutenant to Captain."
He then removed my single silver bar, then pinned a double set of silver bars to my lapel. He then saluted me, as did the rest of the officers there. "Congratulations captain."
I was in shock for a moment. I was only doing my duty. Then I stopped thinking about it. I had stopped two spies, saving lives. OK, I thought, maybe I did deserve it.
It was at that moment that Catherine appeared, what the hell I thought. That's when she started to point at a young Second Lieutenant. Damn it, I thought this was going to be hard.
I walked out as many of the men were congratulating me. Damn it, this would require more than just my word.
I made my way back to my squad's hut. As I walked in, I heard, "attention!" I stopped as I looked round at the squad saluting me.
"Alright, enough of that shit!" I yelled as many of them started to laugh. I was still a little shocked about the whole thing.
Then, of course, I heard Catherine start to giggle as well. "I am proud of you master, you have made things safer for all of them."
I sighed as I thought, some yes, but we still have two more to capture. The officer that you indicated will need serious evidence before I turn him in.
Master, please don't forget that you have me. I can do many things that will aid you greatly.
I'm sorry Catherine, I am so used to doing things the hard way. I keep forgetting that you can do this for me. What have you got for me?
Catherine proceeded to start making more than a few things appear on my desk. The further we got into it, the more pissed off I became.
Shit I thought, as I went through everything, this mother was in deep. The more I read, the more I was surprised that there were as many alive as there were.
I had to hold my temper as I could see that this traitor was responsible for a great number of deaths. Then the worst thing came up, as I found the payments, and that he was married to a woman here.
I needed to get all this to the commander as soon as I could. This was a major breach of security, though that same man was trying to get all of us captured. I growled, that wasn't about to happen.
I loaded up everything as I tried to make my way to the commander's office. I cursed as I drew near the commander's hut. The same self fucker was in there reporting on me.
I tried to calm but seemed to be fighting a losing battle. A moment later, I was standing on the other side of the camp. "Thank you, Catherine, if that ass has proof on me, we need to truthfully show that it is all false. You can do this?" I asked.
"It should not be very hard at all, master. When you have calmed down, do you wish to be back at that place?" Catherine asked.
I just nodded as I took a few deep breaths, I then felt the tension leave my body. Catherine started massaging my neck and shoulders. Damn, I thought she was damn good.
"Thank you master, I try," Catherine said, then giggled.
I was finally relaxed as I nodded to Catherine. We appeared at the commander's hut, he looking up at me with a suspicious look.
"We've been looking for you, Captain, I have evidence that you have been spying for the enemy," he said.
"Really sir, that's funny because I have evidence of a spy within our ranks. If you wish, I will clear my name first if you wish," I said.
The commander looked at me shocked, then nodded his head as I disproved all that the man had presented. I then gave him true proof of the man's guilt, proof he couldn't disprove.
The commander started shouting orders, then we waited for less than ten minutes, the Second Lieutenant walked in.
"We have a serious problem, Lieutenant," the commander said as the man saw what was on the desk. He thought to draw his side arm, then froze when the bolts of several rifles cocked.
The man laid the pistol on the desk then sneered at me. "You are a dead man, you should know. It's too bad I won't be here when they slit you open, spilling your guts into the sun."
I stepped up, getting in his face, "Yes, too bad, though I will be there when they execute you. I hope that your wife kills herself from the dishonor you bring her!" I then slapped the man across the face, "traitor!"
I could see the boiling anger that rose in the man's eyes. He broke free swinging at me, then caved when I caught him with a fist to his stomach.
"Get this piece of tortious trash out of here!" The commander ordered. "Shit! We dodged a bullet with that. I think we need to go through personnel again."
"Glad I could help sir, I am looking into one more, though I am not sure at the moment," I said.
"Well, son, get it to me as soon as you can. Though this is disturbing, this many especially as close to command as he was," the commander said.
"Yes sir, I will do all that I can. My squad has a mission today. I'll see you when we return," I told the commander.
I looked at Catherine as we left his hut. Is our mission known to the enemy? I asked her.
No sense walking into a death trap, I thought. Catherine looked away as she concentrated. I she started; I am seeing your entire squad being filled with bullets.
I nodded, it was as I thought, whomever the fourth spy was, they wanted us, actually me, dead. I needed to make a few changes before we left.
I looked out over the sand, trying to see the other trail we were supposed to take. Thankfully, I had been warned.
We were approaching the area we were patrolling from a completely different direction.
I had us coming over the last dune slowly, glad that I did. We all saw that there had to be at least fifty, maybe more waiting for us. I had part of the squad circle around to the other side as we set up.
Less than thirty minutes later, I got a couple of radio clicks, letting me know they were ready. We started to fire as the insurgents tried to back away from us, right into the other half of the squad.
I smiled as the ambush we had set up worked in our favor. It was over in no time at all, we even got a few prisoners, for the first time.
