May 6, 1944:

The day started off typical for the prisoners of Luft Stalag 13, no one was feeling any ill effects from being dosed with Nish'ta the night before. After roll call, LeBeau fixed them a nice breakfast with food retrieved from the officer's mess, with a promise to Schultz there would be food for him since he acquired the eggs, sausage, flour, and miscellaneous items needed for a breakfast feast. After breakfast, the men of barracks two went about their daily task making their presence known for the Kommandant in order not to appear suspicious. Kinch spent the morning on the radio trying and failing to reach London; he was convinced that they were on radio blackout for some unknown reason. He did manage to reach Bluebird and retrieve the data the Colonels' needed to plan this evenings raid on the laboratory.

Hogan and O'Neill drew out a small scale of the laboratory on paper planning their attack with the information the O'Neill had gathered at the lab, and Bluebird's data on how many guards would be present. Bluebird had promised no more than five guards and less if he could swing it, but he couldn't guarantee it. Tiger's team was going to handle any guards on the exterior of the compound and keep watch outside. The two Carters' were going to be in charge of planting explosives in the laboratory to make sure all the equipment and plans were destroyed. Newkirk and Kinch were going to take care of any problem scientist and the guards inside the lab, if possible taking them alive. Hogan and LeBeau were going to get Pierre out, and make sure the plans for the rockets were destroyed, since Pierre was the only person who knew where they were stored. O'Neill and Tiger were going to make sure the Nish'ta was completely destroyed, and then set explosives in the back of the building. With any luck, they'd be in and out in less than an hour, but whatever went according to plan?

After lunch, Hogan found Marya to discuss the mission plans and her part in it. "We are planning on taking the laboratory out tonight. Herr Burch is supposed to be back at the hotel by seven, and if you want him you'll have to take him from there."

"But Hogan, I'm not able to take a man such as Herr Burch out of a building full of Gestapo. I need your help to do that," Marya protested.

"I know your not, but what I'd suggest is that you have Burkhalter invite him to dinner, and then you and ride back to the hotel with Burch. But don't allow Burkhalter to ride in the same car as you. I can make sure an underground member is your driver, and then take you to a safe house. It's going to be your responsibility to get him back to Russia," Hogan wasn't going to volunteer his men for the job.

"How am I supposed to get him there?" Marya asked looking at Hogan as if he was not telling her everything.

"How were you expecting to take him to Russia?" Hogan countered not giving an inch.

"I thought you would think of something, as you always do Hogan darling," Marya tried to win him with her womanly charm.

"This is what I've thought of, I told you in the beginning that I don't care what happens to Burch, and all I was taking care of was the laboratory."

"Hogan, this is not like you at all; its short sided for your normal work. What if I get Burch back to Russian and he starts the same type of process for us?" Marya didn't believe he was being completely forth coming with her. What else was in that lab?

"At least, he won't be working for the Nazis' and that fulfills my orders. More to the point, isn't that why you want to take him back to Russia? I'm helping you accomplish your mission also," Hogan knew there was no way that she'd be able to get Seth back to Russia, and he wasn't going to risk exposing his operation in an attempt to do it. Carl had men who agreed to attempt to take Seth back to a safe house, and keep him there for a couple of days. They were under orders that if he broke free not to pursue him and not to endanger themselves or anyone else trying to hold him. He didn't think there was anyway of getting Seth safely back to London or he'd fight her for him.

"I see, is that so," Marya didn't quite believe his explanation, but she held her tongue obviously he was under some orders he wouldn't expand upon. "Tell me how you were able to get Colonel O'Neill in a Gestapo uniform, and for Captain Fuchs to agree to give him a tour also. What do you have on the Captain?"

"Why would you think I have anything on the Captain?" He answered deadpanning her.

"The only other logical explanation would be that O'Neill is undercover in the Gestapo, but I don't think he is. So what do you have on him?" Marya asked with her interest piqued.

"What I have on the Captain you wouldn't be able to use," Hogan gave her a lopsided grin, he was about to misdirect her with great pleasure.

"Tell me what you have," Marya was now smiling and very intrigued. Hogan leaned over and whispered something into her ear. "That's perfect! You're right I wouldn't be able to use that to persuade him to help me. You keep using it though it is superb. I will make arrangements for Herr Burch to be picked up and taken back to Russia. While I'm kidnapping him, what are you going to be doing?"

"As I said, we're going to take out the laboratory. I don't think it would be safe for you to be out there, it's going to be dangerous. After you capture Herr Burch, what are your plans? Will you be coming back here or staying out at the safe house?" He needed to know where she was going to be for everyone's safety. Bluebird had searched Seth's room and found no Nish'ta in his possessions, so Hogan wasn't worried about Marya or the underground agents being exposed to it.

"I think I will stay with him for a little while, then come back here to be seen with Burkhalter as my alibi when the laboratory explodes. You will be careful, won't you?" She asked with genuine concern on her face and in her voice.

"That's a good idea, and yes we plan to be careful," Hogan said thinking that tonight he was going to do his best not to repeat something disastrous. He said goodbye to her and went to raid the Kommandant's mail.

O'Neill was going over the plans for tonight, at twenty two hundred hours the mission of a lifetime would start. He'd managed to change some things making the going into this job to be more in their favor, but could they pull it off without any deaths this time around? Would he and Sam both make it through the job with the changes he'd made? He had one hidden ace left that could only be used in case of extreme measures. Would it be enough? How many deaths would occur tonight? Would he be able to keep his promise to Hogan? Only time would tell.