Summary: Lt. Grayson meets Col. Hogan, and Schultz finally knows something!
Author's Note: Thanks to Char and Sandra for their beta-reading. Their comments definitely made this section all the better.
Disclaimer: Comic characters belong to DC/Vertigo and Time/Warner, whileHogan's Heroes is owned by Paramount, Viacom and others; this is an original story that doesn't intend to infringe on their copyright. Feedback is welcome.
Copyright June 2004
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Nightwing/Hogan's Heroes: Blackhawk Down!
By Syl Francis
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Tuesday, May 30, 1944 (0400hrs, local)
Tunnel system underneath
LuftStalag 13
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Kinchloe noted that the look on Grayson's face wasn't much different from the one he had when the trap door had opened next to him. At least he no longer had his mouth open, Kinchloe thought wryly. They'd hurried through the main tunnel until it opened onto the communications and operations center. From there, other tunnels branched off in several directions.
With each new discovery, the young flyer's perplexed expression changed to one of amazed wonder. "Where do all these branches go?" Grayson asked. "How long did it take to dig--?" He stopped when Kinchloe held his hand up for quiet. Grayson turned to see a senior officer--a colonel by the silver eagles on his collar--who was currently on the radio with 'Mama Bear.' Grayson turned to Kinchloe with a questioning look.
Leaning closer, Kinchloe explained sotto voce, "That's Col. Hogan, codename Papa Bear. Mama Bear is our contact submarine, located somewhere in the North Sea. She generally surfaces once every 48 hours to relay messages to and from London." Grayson nodded and was about to ask another question, when Kinchloe again signaled for quiet.
"Your orders stand, Papa Bear. Nightwing's mission takes priority--most urgent! I repeat--most urgent!" Hogan shook his head in disgust and glanced over at Grayson, his disappointment obvious. Then, as if accepting the inevitable, Hogan nodded.
"Acknowledged, Mama Bear," he said. "Papa Bear out." Hogan took a moment to replace the mike, his back to the men. Composing himself, Kinchloe knew. Finally, he turned to face them. "The munitions plant is off," he said.
"But what about Tiger, Colonel?" LeBeau demanded.
"Yeah, boy--uh, I mean, sir," Carter chimed in. "We can't just leave her there!"
"What if she gets caught?" Newkirk asked.
At the chorus of protests from the others, Hogan held his hands up for quiet. "It's only temporary," he said. Nodding at Grayson, he added, "Tiger will just have to hold out a little longer. At least until we finish this new mission. Whatever it is!"
At his words, they all turned their attention on Grayson. Before he could say anything, however, Hogan asked. "Nightwing, I presume?"
"Grayson, sir," Grayson said formally, snapping to attention and saluting sharply. "Lt. Richard Grayson, reporting." Hogan gravely returned the younger officer's salute and held his hand out. They shook. Glancing at his watch, Hogan addressed them all.
"Okay, fellas, it's almost time for morning roll call. Everybody back in their bunks."
"But what about the new mission, mon colonel?" LeBeau asked. "Should Lt. Grayson not brief us as to what it is going to be? The sooner we finish it, the sooner we can help Tiger."
"Yeah, boy...uh-I mean, Colonel," Carter said. "Shouldn't we--?"
"It'll have to wait, fellas," Hogan insisted. "We can't miss roll call, and we have to be back in our bunks before Schultz comes in to wake us up in another couple of minutes." LeBeau looked like he was about to protest, but Hogan added, "We don't want Schultz to ask any embarrassing questions, do we?"
"Schultz ask questions, Colonel?" Newkirk scoffed. "He's too afraid he might learn something!"
"Isn't that the truth?" Kinchloe agreed. "Then he wouldn't 'know nothing' anymore!" The others chuckled as they started climbing a ladder that Grayson assumed led to their quarters.
"Kinch!" Hogan called, stopping the black sergeant from following the others up the ladder. "A word." At Kinchloe's questioning look, Hogan asked, "Any trouble on the way out or back?"
Kinchloe shook his head. "No, sir." Seeing a familiar look of worry on his commanding officer's face, he narrowed his eyes. "Why do you ask, Colonel?"
Sighing, Hogan glanced away momentarily and then back again. "We lost contact with Tiger." Kinchloe drew in a swift breath.
"How long?"
Shrugging, Hogan began to pace. "We're not sure. According to her underground unit, she successfully got a position at the munitions plant. The forged papers Newkirk drew up for her, which identified her as a guest worker, obviously did their job. That was three days ago. About twenty hours ago, they received a coded message from her, stating that she was following a tip about someone codenamed Green Arrow--"
"Green Arrow?" Grayson interrupted. "Are you sure? About Green Arrow, I mean?" At Hogan's look of surprise, Grayson snapped to attention instantly and apologized. "Begging the Colonel's pardon, sir!"
"At ease, Grayson," Hogan said. "What do you know of Green Arrow?"
Relaxing slightly, Grayson shook his head. "Not much, sir. Green Arrow is OSS. He was on a mission for us, but was lost almost a year ago. His last message was mostly indecipherable, but the code breakers were able to make out two words--'Project Themiscyra'." He shrugged. "That's why I'm here. To find out what exactly Project Themiscyra is and destroy it if necessary."
"Themiscyra...Themiscyra..." Hogan murmured. "Where have I heard that term before?"
"Wasn't that the legendary island home of the Amazons?" Kinchloe asked. "From Greek mythology, I mean." Grayson nodded.
"Yes, sir...According to legend the Amazons supposedly retreated to Themiscyra after their queen was betrayed by Heracles. They renounced all contact with 'Man's World' and went into permanent seclusion for the rest of eternity."
"Colonel, you don't suppose that Project Themiscyra involves the Nazis' idea of building a better woman--an Amazon?" Kinchloe asked.
"One could only hope, Kinch," Hogan replied with a sly grin. "One could only hope."
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Tuesday, May 30, 1944 (0530hrs, local)
LuftStalag 13
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"Diiissss-missed!"
The POWs fell out of formation as soon as Col. Klink, the camp kommandant, gave Hogan his usual, overly exaggerated morning salute. Maj. Hochstetter, their friendly neighborhood Gestapo agent, stood waiting impatiently for Klink on the front steps leading up to the kommandant's office.
This was Hochstetter's seventh visit to the Stalag 13 in just one week. "Something's rotten in Denmark," Hogan muttered. Although anxious to return to his barracks, the senior POW stopped to chat with Sgt. Schultz. One never knew what his favorite camp guard might let slip while insisting that he knew nothing.
At Hogan's innocuous greeting, Schultz became immediately suspicious, and shook his head, muttering, "I know nothing! Nothing!"
Hogan rolled his eyes. "All I said was 'good morning, Schultz,'" he protested. "No need to get all German on me."
"Oui, Schultzie," LeBeau agreed. "You are becoming more and more like a dirty Kraut every day!"
"I am?" Schultz asked. At their nods, Schultz dropped his eyes in shame. "I am so sorry, Col. Hogan. I did not mean to be."
Hogan threw his arm around the rotund sergeant's shoulders. "That's quite all right, Schultz. We forgive you. Don't we, fellas?" His other men had joined them by then, effectively surrounding Schultz. They all nodded in agreement.
"Sure, Schultzie," Newkirk said reasonably. "It's not your fault you're a bloody Kraut."
"Danke, danke," Schultz murmured. "You are all such nice boys!"
"Think nothing of it, Schultz," Hogan said. All the men quickly shook hands with the befuddled German guard. "Oh, and by the way, Schultz...You, um...you don't happen to know anything about--?"
"Are you kidding, boy--uh, I mean, Colonel?" Carter interrupted. "Schultzie never knows anything!" Hogan glared at Carter for the interruption. Carter immediately dropped his eyes in embarrassment.
"I guess, Carter's right," Hogan said, patting Schultz on the shoulder and regretfully moving away. "You probably wouldn't know why ol' smiley--Hochstetter--has been dropping by all week, would you?"
Schultz quickly shook his head. "No! I don't know anything!" he insisted.
"Not even about Themiscyra?" Hogan asked softly. He knew he was taking a chance, but if Schultz really didn't know anything, then there was no harm done. Hogan knew that the timid German sergeant would 'remember nothing' about the question in order to protect himself. Schultz's response came as somewhat of a surprise.
"Themiscyra!?" Schultz asked, shocked. "Col. Hogan! How did you--? No!" He broke away from the circle of Allied POWs. "I know nothing!"
As if by magic, LeBeau suddenly held a plate of the Delice Napoleon directly under Schultz's nose. Hogan grinned. He had ordered LeBeau to prepare a fancy dessert the night before just for an opportunity such as this. He hadn't been sure whether he'd be able to glean any useful information from Schultz, of course, but from long experience, he knew that the way to break through Schultz's timidity was through his stomach.
After just one sniff, the German sergeant closed his eyes and looked like he was going to faint. He made a move as if to grab the plate, but LeBeau was too quick for him. He passed it to Newkirk, who through a bit of sleight of hand, made it disappear just as suddenly as it had appeared.
"Themiscyra first," Hogan said softly. "Then, the Delice Napoleon."
Schultz shook his head in fright. "Col. Hogan, please! I know nothing!"
"I know, I know, Schultz!" Hogan said soothingly. "So, whatever you say can't be of any use to us, right?" Schultz blinked in confusion at Hogan's words. Newkirk magically held the delicious dessert under Schultz's nose again. At the faint aroma, Schultz again closed his eyes in anticipation. He was about to reach for it, when it disappeared yet again! In frustration, Schultz shrugged.
"I've only heard rumors, Col. Hogan."
"What kind of rumors?"
Schultz shrugged. "The usual nonsense...That with this new discovery or invention, we will defeat the Allies and win the war."
"What new discovery, Schultz?" Hogan pressed. "What new invention?"
Schultz caught sight of the dessert being passed from Newkirk to Kinchloe. To Schultz's shock, Kinchloe brought a fork out of one of his pockets. The black sergeant gave him a wide grin and deliberately brought the fork down on the dessert.
"Stop!" Schultz yelled. The men froze in a momentary tableau in the middle of the parade grounds. "Please, Col. Hogan...I swear I don't know anything--"
"Oh, well, if you say so, Schultz," Hogan said with a shrug. "Let's go, fellas. Hey, Louis...you don't happen to have anymore of that--what did you call it?"
"Delice Napoleon," LeBeau replied.
"Yeah...that?"
"Non, mon Colonel," LeBeau said with a sad shake of his head. "I am afraid that Kinchloe has the last piece." He pointed in Kinchloe's direction. Kinchloe waved the fork in an apologetic shrug.
"Sorry, fellas. Last piece, I'm afraid."
"Last...piece?" Schultz spoke in a small voice.
"Oui, Schultzie," LeBeau said. "And I'm afraid that I don't have the necessary ingredients to make anymore. Not for quite awhile anyway."
"Gee...that's a shame, Louis," Hogan said with a shake of his head. "It sure was tasty."
"Yeah, boy...real tasty!" Carter offered. They all turned to go.
"Sgt. Kinchloe...?" The POWs all stopped at the sound of Schultz's voice. "I don't suppose you would allow me just one small taste?" Giving the others an ironic glance, Kinchloe immediately started back towards Schultz. Gallantly offering the German guard his fork, Kinchloe somehow managed to keep the dessert plate just out of his reach. And Hogan was suddenly standing cheek-to-cheek to Schultz.
"Themiscyra, Schultz," he whispered. "What kind of rumors?" Schultz closed his eyes and sighed in defeat.
"I overheard Maj. Hochstetter talking to Col. Klink a few days ago," Schultz began.
"How many days ago?" Hogan prompted. "Hochstetter's been in and out of camp for the past week." Schultz shrugged.
"The first night he came?" Schultz asked. At Hogan's look of impatience, he quickly nodded and said, "Yes...the first night Maj. Hochstetter came this week...Sunday, I believe." Schultz swallowed nervously. "I was standing guard just outside the kommandant's door and accidentally happened to open it just a crack--"
Newkirk snorted in derision. "Just happened to--?" Kinchloe elbowed him, and Newkirk promptly shut his mouth.
"Yes, yes..." Schultz insisted.
"Okay, okay, Schultz," Hogan said softly. "We believe you. Now, after you accidentally cracked open the door, did you just happen to accidentally overhear anything?"
"Ja, ja, I did." Schultz looked meaningfully at the dessert. Hogan gave Kinchloe a curt nod, and Kinchloe promptly allowed Schultz to cut out a forkful of Delice Napoleon. They watched as the German guard eagerly brought it up to his waiting lips. At the taste, Schutlz's knees went limp and he almost fainted in ecstasy.
"Easy, boy...easy," Hogan murmured. "You were saying that you accidentally overheard something...?" Schultz nodded dreamily.
"Heavenly..." Schultz enunciated each syllable prayerfully. Hogan punched him none-to-gently on the arm, bringing him back down to earth. "Oh, yes. As I was saying..." Unbidden, Schultz's eyes drifted back to the dessert. Unable to control himself, he reached for the plate, but Kinchloe pulled it out of his reach while Hogan and Newkirk held the corpulent sergeant back.
"Oh no you don't, Schultzie," Newkirk said. "Not until you tell us what you 'accidentally' overheard." Schultz gave them all a look of profound hurt, but at last he nodded in defeat.
"Very well," he said. "Maj. Hochstetter told Col. Klink that the Gestapo is holding several very special prisoners. He said that they were captured about a month ago on an island in the Aegean Sea. About twelve years ago, one of our test pilots, Captain Stephen Rogers, had engine trouble and made a forced landing on this island. To his surprise, the island was not any known navigational map. He was befriended by the inhabitants who helped him fix his plane and even showed him ways to improve engine performance."
Schultz paused in his recitation, giving a longing look at the dessert. Sighing, Kinchloe complied by allowing him another bite-sized piece. Schultz smiled in utter happiness. Hogan waited impatiently, but decided that it was best to give Schultz his lead. Finally, Schultz began again.
"Maj. Hochstetter said that the plane that Capt. Rogers was flying was one of the most advanced of the time, but the inhabitants of this island--primatives at first glance--were able to make major modifications to the engine and fuselage to help it perform almost ten times better than the original specifications. Capt. Rogers managed to convince one of the inhabitants--a beautiful fraulein--to accompany him back to Germany, and since then she has shared the science of her people, and it has been of great help in improving the planes of our mighty Luftwaffe." He looked at Hogan. "That is all I know, Col. Hogan. I swear!"
Hogan nodded. "Thanks, Schultz. It's more than--"
"Oh, there is one more thing," Schultz said with a chuckle. "Something silly, I know. The Gestapo sent a team of scientists back to the fraulein's island to see if they could find out more of their science." He stopped and a strange look came over him. "But when they reached the coordinates that Capt. Rogers had given them, the island was gone." He shook his head. "According to Maj. Hochstetter, the fraulein claimed that the island--which she calls Themiscyra--was only visible once every twelve years, and then for only two moon cycles." He shrugged.
Hogan gave Schultz a look of deep skepticism. "Schultz...I know ol' Bubblehead--Hitler--believes in astrology and the supernatural--"
"Yeah...a bunch of voodoo mumbo-jumbo jazz," Kinchloe added.
"But even he can't really believe that an island can just appear and disappear?" Hogan demanded.
"Yeah, boy!" Carter interrupted. "That's just impossible!"
"See, Schultzie?" Newkirk said sarcastically. "Even Carter says it's impossible." Carter gave Newkirk a pleased look.
"All I know is what I heard," Shultz said with a shrug. "It was there when Capt. Rogers was forced to land on it, and then it was gone."
"And that was twelve years ago," Hogan murmured. He gave Schultz a penetrating look. "Schultz...you said you overheard Hochstetter saying that the Gestapo had captured several special prisoners about a month ago, didn't you?" At Schultz's nod, Hogan spoke to his men. "I stand corrected, fellas. Apparently, it's been twelve years and a month."
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End of Part 3