Sorry it has been so long between installments. Real Life is sucky at the moment, so I am escaping into the even better work of World War II via Hogan's Heroes. I don't own the show or its characters; I don't own Capt. Fuchs (Jennaya does), but all the other characters are mine.

Chapter 21: Checking In and an Arresting Development

For a change, Newkirk was the first one up the following morning. He slid down from the top bunk quietly, tapped the bunk that led down to the tunnels; miraculously, it made very little noise which allowed him to climb below without waking anyone. He made his way along the earthen wall to the radio room. Before he sat down at the radio, he looked around warily. He switched the radio to his frequency, waited a two count, and said, "Nebuchadnezzar, come in..."

There was static as he tried for another two times. Finally, the static was replaced with ""Nebuchadnezzar, here, old boy. The movie hasn't come to town yet, so what can I do for you, old chap?

Newkirk took a breath and said in the slight German accent he always used with this version of Nebuchadnezzar, "I was calling to let you know that it will be in the neighborhood in the next two to three days, special delivery in a hat sized box. The delivery man is a nice older gentleman from the city of many lakes. You will be pleased with the movie, although the distributor is in question."

There was a silence of about two minutes, and then Nebuchadnezzar replied, "The distributor came highly recommended, old boy. Is there a problem?"

"Check into it more thoroughly, old chap," Newkirk replied, "the other distributor moved out of the area so quickly that I never found out what happened."

Again there was a moment of silence before Nebuchadnezzar replied, "Will do, and we will get back to you when the movie is in the theatres. Out."

Newkirk sighed, rubbed his eyes, and leaned against the table before switching the radio back to Papa Bear's regular frequency. He stood up, lit a cigarette, and moved back to the bunk which led topside. Once there, he went over to the stove, brought up the fire, ran some water, and nabbed some chicory/coffee from LeBeau's foot locker. As the smell of warming liquid wafted through the common room, Newkirk moved to his locker and dressed for the day. Like a beckoning finger lifting a chin, the smell of the coffee brought Kinch awake first, then LeBeau, followed by Carter, and finally, Hogan who poked his head out of his office and said, "Newkirk, did you make the coffee?"

After roll call, the core group was enjoying another pot of coffee, this slightly less strong. Colonel Hogan was discussing the finer details of the plan for the evening. "Ok, Carter, you'll be the ranking officer in this little adventure. You do Nazi so well." At that, Carter sat up straight about to say something, but he stopped when Colonel Hogan got that slight smile that let him know that the colonel was teasing him. "Newkirk, you'll be working with Bluebird at the Hauserhof. Each team will be carrying a copy of the faked arrest orders that the boys worked on under your expert tutelage, Maestro."

"Why, thank ya, guv'nor. I did me level best," he said grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

"Kinch, I want you to contact the Underground to set up a group for pick up tomorrow evening and then contact London and let them know that the packages will be on the way. After that, get to the motor pool and see about getting the staff car for us this evening. LeBeau, you have the job of keeping our beloved Sgt. Schultz busy this evening. He's got guard duty. We'll leave about an hour after roll call, pick up the extra staff car at the rendezvous point, and meet Bluebird on the outskirts of town where he'll be waiting with his car. You, Newkirk, will go with him to the Hauserhof, "arrest" von Stimmel, and bring him back here. Carter and I'll go to the inn, "arrest" Teppel, and bring him back here. When they get here, we'll start getting them ready to transfer them to the Underground who will then lead them to the submarine pickup."

The meeting then broke up as the men moved to their daily activities. Most of the day passed as usual, although a spirit of anticipation seemed to hover over the camp. The men directly involved in the operation finished their daily tasks and started on preparations for the evening's mission. Forgeries were checked and rechecked, uniforms were straightened and boots were polished. Finally, evening roll call was called and the men fell out for formation. The evening cold had a bite to it signaling the onset of fall. Sounds of stamping feet accompanied the count of the men. Schultz finished the count, turned around to report to Komandant Big Shot, who mercifully did not keep the men but dismissed them immediately.

Schultz shadowed the men of Barrake 2 inside and helped himself to a cup of coffee. The men all looked at Col. Hogan, who moved over to the big sergeant who sat sipping his coffee. "So, Schultz, whatcha doing?"

"It's getting colder out; didn't you feel the bite in the air? Uh, Colonel Hogan, the Big Shot has me standing guard along the fence this evening because my boots weren't polished good enough...they didn't shine as good as his head...Ach du Lieber! I am not looking forward to this evening," he grumbled as he sipped his coffee in no hurry at all to go outside.

Newkirk laid his hand on the big man's shoulder and said, "Schultzie, ya keep drinkin' up our coffee, we're not goin' 'ave anythin' left. Besides, we 'ave thin's we need ta do, so why don't ya go on ta your post like a good German soldier."

Schultz stood up and looked around the room at the men standing around him. Tension radiated off most of them, but especially from the usual men who were always up to monkey business. He knew they were always doing something dangerous, but usually, he turned a blind eye. He wanted this war over with as soon as possible because of his extra activities and for the welfare of his eldest son. If these boys, his boys, could help the war end sooner, with Germany not being totally destroyed in the process, he didn't consider it treason to ignore their activities. So, he turned to Colonel Hogan and said as sternly as he could manage, "Be careful with your monkey business. Make sure everyone is safe and back before roll call in the morning, Verstehen Sie?" He gulped his coffee and left the Barrake without waiting for a response.

The core team went down to the tunnels, got into uniform, and one by one climbed up the ladder. Cautiously, they made out of the woods, made it to the waiting staff car, and drove to the meeting spot. They didn't have long to wait because Bluebird showed no more than five to seven minutes later. They checked their weapons and went over the plan one final time, and then they divided into their respective teams.