Chapter 1:
2:00AM. They should have been back an hour ago. Did something go wrong? Was there too many Krauts patrolling the area tonight? These were the thoughts running through Hogan's head, as he paced back and forth across the radio room. The only company he had were his nagging questions and 'what if' thoughts.
He continued making his way from one side to the other, when he heard footsteps and faint voices getting closer. He tightened his muscles and hovered his hand over his hidden pistol, but was relieved to see it was just his men safe and sound. He let out a breath of air, realizing he had forgotten to breathe for a minute.
"Thank God. What took you so long? I think you caused me a few gray hairs there," the colonel demanded.
"Sorry, Colonel. The Gestapo's swarming around this place like a pack of bees," Kinch said, sitting down at the radio table.
"We had to go into hiding for about two hours before the coast was clear, Sir. We would've been back at midnight otherwise." Newkirk added.
"Just glad all four of you are safe. And the general; where is he?" Hogan asked, putting a hand on his hip.
Carter gestured for someone behind him to enter the room and soon stepped in a tall, old looking man wearing a prestigious Luftwaffe general's uniform. He was thin, about 6'2", wore glasses, had soft blue gray eyes, and blackish gray hair. He had to be at least in his mid fifties.
"Colonel, this is General von Wagner," LeBeau said.
Hogan smiled and shook the man's hand.
"General, pleasure to finally meet you," he said sincerely.
"Good to meet you as well, Colonel Hogan," von Wagner answered.
"So you're the man everyone's searching Germany for."
The old man gave a heavy sigh.
"It has not been easy hiding from the Gestapo. Those men search just about every house, building, or barn known to mankind," von Wagner said.
"If you don't mind me asking, how exactly did they find out about you turning traitor?"
"Well, as you all know I've been secretly giving the underground important information regarding Luftwaffe plans and aerial attacks for the last four to five months. I was reporting a rather recent attack to have messaged to London, and someone must have either heard me from outside of my office or picked up on my radio signal. I've been on the run ever since."
"Don't worry, General. You'll be safe here until we can get you a sub to London."
"And how long will that take?"
"Two days," Kinch said, taking his headset off. "That's the soonest they can send someone out here."
"Will the Gestapo figure out where I am in that time frame?" von Wagner asked, uneasy.
"As long as you stay down here and lie low, the Gestapo will have as much luck finding you as they would searching for a needle in a haystack," Hogan said, crossing his arms.
"Or a piece of hay in a needle stack." Carter replied.
The response the young man got was everyone turning his eyes to him and looking at him funny.
"What?" He asked, not understanding what he said wrong.
Newkirk rolled his eyes, shook his head, and looked back at the two officers before him.
"Ignore him, General," he said.
"Gentlemen, I think we should all start heading for bed. Roll call's in four hours." The colonel added. He then turned back to von Wagner. "General, you gonna be alright down here for a couple days?"
"I've slept in much worse places, Colonel Hogan. This tunnel is one of the nicer places I've taken a snooze," the general answered.
Hogan nodded.
"Good. We'll come check on you in the morning," he said, and looked at his men. "Come on, boys. The general could use some sleep, and so could we."
"Oui, Colonel," LeBeau answered.
Hogan and his team said 'goodnight' to von Wagner, then made their way up into the barracks and were soon fast asleep in their bunks.
Morning roll call came and went. Soon the men were back in their barracks and gathered around at the table in the main area. As LeBeau made breakfast, Hogan and the others sat and discussed their current assignment and their guest 'downstairs'.
"How are we gonna get von Wagner to the sub, Colonel?" Kinch asked.
"If the bloody Krauts keep searching the area like this, there's no way we can get him to the rendezvous point safely." Newkirk added.
"We'll need a diversion to distract the Krauts for a couple hours," Hogan said, taking a sip of his coffee.
"What do we distract them with, though?" LeBeau asked, from the stove.
"I got it. We're all gonna dress up like ninjas and once outside of camp, we'll…" Carter never got a chance to finish his thought.
"I'm already saying 'no' to that idea," Newkirk said, agitated.
"You didn't even let me finish!"
"I didn't need to. I already knew it was a bad idea the minute you said 'dress up like ninjas'."
"You got a better idea?"
"Not at the moment. But when I think of something, it certainly won't be involving any ninjas."
"Alright, alright, knock it off, fellas. Let's get back on track here," Hogan ordered, with the wave of his hand.
"What if we staged a mass escape?" The Frenchman suggested.
"I think you'd give poor Old Klink a heart attack," Kinch said.
"Wouldn't be necessarily a bad thing." Newkirk commented.
The response got a stern glare from his commanding officer.
"Not bad enough to kill him...just bad enough it got a scare out of the guards." The Englishman continued.
"Have fun with the Wrath of Kalina, then," the staff sergeant answered.
"Ma petite ami does not joke around when it comes to her le père. You remember how she almost whacked that lieutenant in the back of the head with Klink's swagger stick?" LeBeau asked.
"He sure didn't call Klink a 'dysfunctional blockhead' again," Hogan said.
"That's what I love about me little mate; she's sweet and kind, but she's feisty and not intimidated easily." Newkirk replied, with a grin.
Hogan chuckled.
"That she sure is," he said.
The five were about to resume bouncing ideas off one another on how to complete their assignment, when a knock was heard at the door. They all smiled knowing who was on the other side.
The colonel walked to the door and allowed the kommandant's daughter to enter. She was holding a notepad and pen and seemed a bit stressed.
"Kalina, you're just in time. We've got a new assignment, and we could use your help," Hogan said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"Colonel Hogan, as much as I respect and value my spot on your team, I'm afraid I've got an assignment of my own...and it's driving me nuts," the teenager answered.
"What's going on, kid?" Kinch asked.
"Papa's birthday is in two days, and I wanna throw a big surprise party for him. Unfortunately, I have no idea what to do or how to start planning one."
"Klink has a birthday?" Carter asked.
"How do you think he got here; he fell out of the sky and just showed up?" Newkirk remarked, irritated.
"Well actually when I was little I always thought adults were…"
"Aw, shut it."
"Wait a minute," the colonel said, an idea forming in his head. "You said in two days?"
Kalina nodded.
"April 23rd," she said.
Hogan gave a devious grin, and his eyes twinkled with mischief.
"Gentlemen, I believe we just found our diversion," he said.
"A surprise birthday party?" LeBeau asked.
"The guards will be too busy supervising us to make sure we're not plotting anything against Klink. Because they'll be more worried for the safety of their commanding officer, all the guards will be here watching the recreational hall and won't be patrolling the woods." The colonel explained.
"And with less patrols, we'll able to get General von Wagner to the rendezvous point and back to London," the Englishman said, it now dawning on him.
"Exactly."
"Colonel, you're brilliant." Kinch replied.
"Kalina, what do you need for the party?" Hogan asked, turning to the girl.
Kalina looked at him with a frown.
"I just said I don't know where to start," she said, unamused.
"Well, we need food, entertainment, decorations, music, and presents," the American officer answered.
"I can do food and drinks, Colonel," LeBeau said, then turned to Kalina. "What does your father like, ma petite ami?"
"Oh, quite a few things. Vanilla cake, pistachio ice cream, schnapps, those are all I can think of at the moment." Klink's daughter responded.
"I can do decorations, Gov'nor. We'll need streamers, a banner with 'Happy Birthday' on it, and balloons," Newkirk said.
"I'll do entertainment and music. Does Klink like any games?" Carter asked.
"Um...he likes music and stand-up comedy. I'm not sure if he exactly plays games anymore. The only things I can come up with are charades and card games," Kalina said.
"What about music?"
"Oh, that's easy! Anything classical. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, he loves Mozart."
"What about jazz? We've got a lot of records of that genre lying around."
"Yeah, he likes it. He's not too crazy over it, but he likes a little Frank Sinatra and Louis Prima once and awhile."
"Your father's got good taste in music, kiddo. Never can go wrong with a little Frank Sinatra," Kinch said, with a wink. He got a soft giggle in response.
"Alright, folks," Hogan said. "We've got 48 hours to get this party together and have lots of things to do until then. Operation Happy Birthday Klink starts now."