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

Chapter 13

"That's bloody marvelous. Well if 'es not there where is 'e?"

Newkirk's accent always got "thicker" when he was nervous.

"And don't tell me to calm down Kinch; the bloody sadist is out there doing who knows what!"

"What do we do now, Colonel?" LeBeau asked.

"I wish I knew" Hogan mumbled. "Who would have dossier's on everybody?"

"If you had asked me yesterday, I would have said the Gestapo." Carter answered.

Hogan started tearing apart all his preconceived assumptions. "Yeah, you would think so, but not in this case. Or at least not at Hochstetter's level. He wouldn't have gone over Burkhalter's head… Or did he? Does Burkhalter know more than he's letting on?"

"Colonel, isn't it possible the guy just went AWOL?" Kinch asked.

"At this point, Kinch, anything is possible!"

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Hochstetter sat in the silence of his office idly staring at dust particles suspended in the sunlight. The minute particles bouncing off of each other were much like his thoughts-random. The Major's desk was covered with old files on the sabotage activities surrounding Stalag 13. No matter how he looked at it Stalag 13 appeared to be at the hub for the majority of the attacks. But without solid proof he could do nothing.

"Maybe I have been too rigid in my thinking. If Colonel Hogan is not responsible, who else could it be? Who would have access to this information besides General Burkhalter and the Kommandant's of the Stalag's in the area?"

Voicing this question out loud, he answered in silence.

~ The stationmaster would know about shipments, but he is not always told what is being shipped. The commanding officer, of the local Garrison, would have that information so that he can have troops ready to guard the route. Ranking officers of any military units that would be stationed in the area would know. But none of these would consistently have the information, except for General Burkhalter. ~

Hochstetter's voice returned as his excitement built.

"If General Burkhalter were the one giving out the classified information, what better place to find help to carry out his plans of sabotage then with a Stalag full of Allied prisoners eager to bring about the Fall of the Third Reich. Of course, if the prisoners were involved, Klink would have to know and be a part of it. How else would the prisoner's have the freedom and the means of leaving the camp?"

Hochstetter's eye's widened.

~ I have been to narrow in my thinking. Aaah, right under my nose they have been cavorting. ~ Hochstetter had succeeded in convincing himself that the three were in this together.

~ "This is bigger than I first thought, I can't handle this alone. I'm going to have to talk to my superiors. I will need to take my diagrams and graphs and present this information very precisely. They will not easily prosecute a General, at least not openly. ~

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Colonel Hogan entered the communication room where Newkirk, LeBeau, and Carter silently sat watching Kinch adjusting the dials on the radio.

"How soon before London broadcasts, Kinch?"

"Should be within the next 3 minutes, sir…"

Suddenly, Kinch held up his hand and nodded his head at Hogan. Placing one hand on his headset, he answered, "This is Papa Bear, Mama Bear. Go ahead. Over."

Kinch ripped the headset off and handed it to Colonel Hogan as Mama Bear continued.

"Were you able to learn anything about the Captain? Over."

Hogan answered, "The Captain did not show for Gestapo training. He wasn't even on the roster. I suspect he is working outside the Gestapo for someone higher up the ladder. Over"

"We suspected the same Papa Bear. There is another matter that could be connected. We have word of a movement in the Gestapo ranks to implicate General Burkhalter in underground activity and, by association, Stalag 13. The Abwehr have heard and are moving to start their own investigation.

Major Teppel will be picking up some prisoners from Stalag 13 for 'questioning'. He will contact you and assist you to look for records. You will follow his orders. Understood? Over."

Surprised, Hogan lowered his hand with the earphone and mumbled, "Great," then just as quickly put it back to his ear.

"Understood. Do you have a time frame? Over."

"Immediate. Mama Bear Over and out."

"Papa Bear, Over and Out"

The men were all looking at the Colonel, waiting for him to fill them in on their next move.

"Teppel is coming"

Teppel was a Major in the Abwehr, the German military intelligence organization and an American spy.

Hogan had worked with Teppel before on returning a German spy, Decker, to England before he could expose Hogan, his men and about 300 other underground agents to the Germans.

"Major Teppel is coming here? Carter asked.

"It seems there are some stirrings in the Gestapo that General Burkhalter may be part of the underground. The Abwehr are starting their own investigation."

"The Abwehr is going to try and outflank the Gestapo?" Asked Newkirk.

"I don't think it's a matter of outflanking, It's just that German intelligence, the Abwehr, knows if they want any information they are going to have to grab it themselves, because the Nazi controlled Gestapo won't be sharing what they know." Hogan paced.

"So when will Teppel come to get us?" LeBeau wanted to know.

"Immediately, I don't know anymore than that. Except that he will be giving the orders, which suits me just fine."

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"Raus!"

Hogan woke to the sound of a guard screaming in his ear, pulling him up off the cot, and shoving him out the door of the hospital.

"Uh," grabbing his left side Hogan let out a slight moan as he stumbled into the compound to be immediately engulfed in searchlights. Thanks to London's warning, Hogan had more or less slept with his clothes on.

The Kommandant was standing on the porch outside the office with Teppel.

"I want the Englander, Newkirk, also." He turned back and said something to Klink and then yelled. "He is in Barrack two."

Seconds later, Newkirk landed outside with his clothes and shoes in his hands. Standing in the middle of the freezing compound with a searchlight and machine guns trained on them, Hogan helped Newkirk hurriedly pull on his clothes.

"You ok, Newkirk!"

"Yeah I think so, what happened?"

"I think our ride is here." Hogan whispered.

Teppel had come down off the porch followed by Klink. Schultz was still standing outside of barrack two.

"Silence!" Teppel yelled while looking at his prisoners and motioning to the soldiers he had brought with him.

Guards approached and began applying the chains and manacles.

Klink watched as Hogan and Newkirk were restrained hand and foot. "How long will you keep them, Major?"

"Until we are done!"

The remaining men in barrack two were looking out the windows and door as Hogan and Newkirk were ushered to the back of the waiting truck, thrust inside, and chained to the wooden seat.

Wilson, trying to digest what was happening, stood in the shadow of the hospital building tucking his shirt in and watching as four guards climbed in behind them and the back gate of the truck was raised and fastened.

Teppel climbed in the truck and the truck began moving forward and out the front gate. It was done.

The searchlight resumed its sweep pattern and the compound once again grew silent.

Klink motioned toward Barrack 2. "Schultz, get those men back to their bunks."

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant."

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"Everybody back to bed, Schnell," Schultz shouted as he walked into barrack two.

"What's going on Schultz? Where are they taking the Colonel and Newkirk," LeBeau demanded, pretending he didn't know.

"They are going to Abwehr headquarters for questioning. Now back to bed everyone."

"You've got to be kidding! You can't expect us to sleep after this!" Several of the men protested.

"Back to bed! Kommandant's orders!" Schultz lowered his voice. "Please, if you go back to bed tonight, I will see what I can learn tomorrow."

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"Come in."

"The prisoners have all gone back to bed, Herr Kommandant."

"Thank-you, Schultz."

Klink was sitting at his desk, still wearing his coat and holding his swagger stick.

"Something wrong, Herr Kommandant"

"No, Schultz, I always get a visit from the Abwehr in the middle of the night." Klink said bitterly.

"Sometimes it's the Gestapo." Schultz corrected.

"Schultz!" Klink bellowed.

"Sorry, Herr Kommandant."

Klink stared at his desk. "Major Teppel ordered me not to report this to General Burkhalter."

"What will you do, Herr Kommandant?"

Klink looked at Schultz.

"I will do as they say. It sounds to me like the General is under investigation, but for what? And what would my prisoners know about it?"

Schultz remained silent, deciding that question was best left unanswered.