The T.V. show Hogan's Heroes belongs to Bing Crosby Productions.

No ownership of the Hogan's Heroes characters is implied or inferred, (except for the 7 new characters introduced in this story) and no infringement is intended.

Weaving a Web to Freedom,

The Truth is What We Make It

By MLM 13

Chapter11

Captain Steffan packed up his few belongings and called the Kommandant of Stalag 4, Colonel Wessar, to let him know that he had been enlisted by the Gestapo and would not be coming back.

The Kommandant would put the cover story in place that the Gestapo had phoned and informed him that "Albright" would not be returning.

Wessar will miss not having a mole. He'll loose the pipeline to the activity going on behind the scenes.

Steffan was still thinking about the events of the night before. If I had not been interrupted, I know I would have gotten that signature from Colonel Hogan.

It galled him to think that Hogan believed he got by with delivering that falsehood.

It's not over yet Colonel. I'll be back. You'll make a mistake and I will be there. You will eventually award me the promotion you so cleverly cheated me out of this time.

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"Don't tell LeBeau, I'd never live it down."

Wilson placed a cool damp cloth on Hogan's forehead.

"You still look a little 'green'. Are you sure you want to try to go down to the radio room for London's broadcast? Your men would understand if you didn't."

"They would but London wouldn't." He pulled the damp cloth down over his eyes.

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"Lights out in 30 minutes." Shultz called, entering Barrack 2.

"Ok, Shultz you don't have to yell". LeBeau handed him a cookie and ushered him back outside.

"Yelling? Who's yelling? I'm not yelling." Schultz' protests disappeared as he bit into the cookie and Louie closed the door.

Kinch swallowed the last of his coffee and stated, "I'm going to go down and meet up with the Colonel, you guys come on down after lights out."

"What do we tell Schultz if he misses you?" asked Carter.

"Tell him since Klink put me in charge, I'm sleeping in the Colonel's room."

"Oh boy, Colonel Hogan's not going to like that!" Carter protested.

"Carter, he's not really going to be in there!" Newkirk rolled his eyes. "Go on, Kinch, we'll handle it!"

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Hogan pulled on his robe. He was on his feet again for the third time in the last 6 hours and working some of the soreness out. The pounding in his head had, for the most part, diminished to a dull ache.

"You doing okay over there, Colonel?" Wilson asked, as he cared for another patient.

"Yup."

Hogan went back and sat on his cot to rest for a few minutes. He was still tired and would really rather lie down and take another nap, than go talk to London right now.

He could feel Wilson's eyes on his back and decided to head down to the radio room. Walking toward the back storage room where the tunnel entrance was located, he heard Wilson come up behind him.

"Do you need something?" Hogan asked.

"No."

Hogan took another step, as did Wilson.

"I can go down the ladder just fine; I've been doing it for quite some time, now!"

"I know," Wilson answered, undaunted.

Taking deliberate steps and trying to appear as if it took no effort, Hogan descended under Wilson's watchful eye.

He had just cleared the last rung of the ladder when he heard.

"A little early aren't you Colonel."

As the trap door closed overhead, Hogan confided, "I had to get out of there, Wilson is worse than those Gestapo guards."

Kinch smiled.

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Hogan headed into the radio room and sat down. "We're a little early. Sit down, Sergeant, let's talk"

"Yes sir, I guess you want to know why we involved those eight men from Stalag 3."

"That would be a good place to start."

"Yes, sir. I talked to the Underground about it for sometime. I knew your feelings on this. The Underground had met Major Craft of Stalag 3 during some previous escape attempts. The Major was the leader of the 'escape committee'. They told him that they were in danger of being uncovered by the Gestapo and the Major wanted to help, since the underground had helped them so many times it was in their best interest, plus a way to strike back at the Krauts. The underground never mentioned you or Stalag 13. The major made his decision based only on the fact that they were about to loose their underground connections."

"Um-hm, so what you're telling me is that they did not do this to help me, they were helping the underground, because they owed it to them for their past help and to ensure their help in the future."

Hogan thought for a minute.

"That sounds good, Kinch, however, that wasn't your motive. But it certainly doesn't negate theirs. Let me think about this. I'll get back to you though. I promise!"

This surprised and relieved Kinch. The Colonel usually made his decisions on the spot. But then, he hadn't normally endured a beating either. I guess I should be grateful. After all, I still have my stripes.

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"Sorry, are we interrupting something?" Newkirk asked as he, Carter and LeBeau entered the room."

"No, we were just finishing for now." Hogan answered.

Kinch stepped up to the radio, put his earphones on and adjusted the frequency.

"Mama Bear this is Papa Bear, Mama Bear this is Papa Bear, Come in Mama Bear. Over."

Static and then…

"Papa Bear this is Mama Bear. Is that you Papa Bear? Over"

Kinch handed Hogan the earphones.

"This is Papa Bear. Go ahead."

"We have some details for you on Captain Steffan. It has been confirmed he was born in Germany but raised in U.S. from age of 3. Acquired citizenship and attended school. He graduated from 'Notre Dame University' with Masters in Psychology, returned to Germany in 38'. Our contacts can not trace his records after his return. Locations given in current dossier do not check out. London wants you to investigate. Over."

"Does London have any leads for us? An address, a phone number…a shoe size?" Hogan asked sarcastically. "Over"

"You can't expect us to do all your work for you, Papa Bear. Next broadcast x4 +1. Understood? Over"

"Understood. Over"

"Mama Bear over and out."

"Papa Bear over and out."

Hogan removed the headphone without speaking.

"What is it, Colonel?" Carter asked.

Looking at his men, he answered, "Information on Steffan, or should I say a lack of information?"

Hogan repeated what London had told him.

"Well how do they expect us to learn what their contacts don't even know?" Newkirk asked.

"That's easy, I'll just call on my 'Gypsy' blood again and get out my crystal ball!" LeBeau exclaimed.

Normally Hogan would have paced while he thought, but tonight he starred down at the table thinking.

Kinch watched. He could see the Colonel's mind working. How he was able to keep going, he had no idea.

Hogan looked up at his men and began giving orders.

"Kinch, get in touch with the Underground. Tell them we need a woman to play the parts of a Red Cross observer, and two German officers to accompany her. They will have to convince Klink that I need to go to the hospital for whatever reason they want to cook up. Once out of camp, I'll need someone to take my place. And I will need to have transportation to the Gestapo training center."

Looking at Newkirk and LeBeau he ordered. "I'll need a Gestapo uniform, make it a Major and papers, special assignment, background checks highly confidential."

"Carter, can you make me up some smoke bombs and a couple of small charges, just enough to cause some confusion if I need it?"

"Boy, I sure can, do you want impact or time detonated?

"Impact!"

"Kinch, let me know when the underground can be ready." Hogan looked at his wrist to check the time and suddenly became annoyed. "Does anyone know what happened to my watch? What time is it?"

"It's 23:45, Colonel." Newkirk answered.

"I better get back upstairs before Klink drops in and I'm missed. Good night, I'll see you in the morning."

"Good night, don't worry about a thing, we'll get it together." LeBeau assured.

Hogan headed for the ladder. His body was protesting his recent activity and he felt exhaustion pulling at him.

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"Roger that, over and out." Kinch slid the headset off. "The underground is working on the Colonel's orders.

"Does he really think he's going to be able to go out and pull this off in the shape he's in?" Newkirk asked.

Kinch looked at him wide eyed.

"Are you going to be the one to tell him he can't?"