The T.V. show Hogan's Heroes belongs to CBS and was a Bing Crosby Productions. No ownership of the Hogan's Heroes characters is implied or inferred, and no infringement is intended

Chapter Seven

Ready—Set—Go

Hogan stood outside the maintenance hut with his men as Carter and Newkirk welded two pieces of pipe together. LeBeau and Kinch were at the back of the truck rummaging through plumbing connections and keeping their eyes on the guards, while Schultz remained slumped against the maintenance hut, quietly out of the way and sound asleep.

"Colonel," LeBeau called out. He was staring past Hogan, the muscles in his face hard and tense.

Hogan turned and immediately understood LeBeau's alarm. Bracing for impact he took in a deep breath. "Major Hochstetter, have you come to say goodbye?"

Hochstetter glared at Hogan, his fists flexed creating a creaking sound, as his leather gloves stretched with the tension. Tilting his head with an air of superiority, Hochstetter growled, "I know you deliberately managed to shut the hot water off, Hogan. I can't prove it, but I know it, just the same."

Hogan did not answer. He knew he should deny it, but part of him wanted Hochstetter to know that he had been "gotten".

"You may be able to fool Klink," Hochstetter continued, "but you can't fool me! And I suspect you have manipulated your way into being out here tonight!"

Though Hogan let the first accusation go, the second one he had to deny. "Right, this is just how I wanted to spend my day, digging up and replacing water pipes," Hogan complained.

"I see that it's kept you outside after lights out!" Hochstetter observed.

"Believe me, if I was going to try and find a way to be outside after lights out, I wouldn't have picked something that was going to keep me doing back--breaking work all day!" Hogan's face flushed with the adrenalin that was pumping through his body.

Hochstetter stood staring at Hogan, studying his words and mannerisms, not sure how much to believe.

Hogan seeing Hochstetter's indecision didn't want to give him time to think. He had to force a split second decision—now! Stepping back and raising his arms out at his sides, he said, "Okay, you think we're up to something…search us…so we can get back to work and get this done! Klink isn't going to let us rest until we have the water back to the kitchen. So search us and let us get back to work!"

Hochstetter stepped forward, forced Hogan's outstretched arms up a bit higher and unzipped the American's jacket, his hands now only inches from the Nazi's naval attack plans for Reykjavik. Carter, Kinch, LeBeau, and Newkirk froze as Hogan and Hochstetter stared silently at each other. "Bah!" Hochstetter stepped back. "You're wasting my time. I have a better idea!" Turning, Hochstetter stormed off to the cooler, followed by his two guards.

Hogan lowered his arms sagging slightly. His adrenalin rush had abandoned him, but his men had not. They were at his side before his tunnel vision cleared, allowing him to see more than just the retreating Gestapo Major.

Louis let out a low whistle and fanned himself.

"Wow, that was close!" Carter whispered.

"Blimey, gov'nor, you 'bout gave me a heart attack!" Newkirk said, while patting his pockets in vain for a cigarette. "My whole life flashed in front of my eyes."

"Are you all right, Colonel?" Kinch asked.

The flush that had been there only moments before was now gone, replaced with paleness and a cold sweat, as the thought of what could have happened reared its ugly head.

Colonel?" Kinch searched Hogan's face for recognition.

Hogan blinked and jerked slightly, his heart now pounding in his chest. "Yeah," he answered breathlessly. Zipping his jacket part way up, he took in a deep breath and let it out saying, "Yeah…" Recovering from the near miss, he straightened and with his usual dogged determination, said, "Let's get in position, they'll be coming out soon."

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Hochstetter approached Baum's cell as Lieutenant Dresdner was pulling the prisoner to his feet.

"Did you get anything more out of him, Lieutenant?" Hochstetter asked.

"Nein, Herr Major. I didn't want to go too far. You said you wanted him conscious and able to walk out of here when we left."

"Yes," Hochstetter said smiling, "I have something to show Herr Baum on our way out." Hochstetter stood in front of Baum, who was being cuffed in preparation for his transfer. "The time has come for you to take a little trip. When we get you to Berlin, we'll see if we can't make your memory a little clearer, and then maybe you will be able to give us an identity to go along with the code name, 'Papa Bear'. "

"I told you, I couldn't see him well," Baum whispered. "He kept to the shadows and he was dressed in black." The words passed slightly muffled over swollen lips. "There was nothing to distinguish him."

Baum, unable to stand up straight after Hochstetter's interrogation efforts, stood slightly bent over, his face a mass of bruises. Hochstetter grabbed Baum by the chin, holding his head up to look his prisoner in the face. "I have somebody I want you to meet on the way out. I won't delay you long."

"Ugh," Baum groaned as Hochstetter's fingers pressed into the already swollen face. Hochstetter raised Baum's face higher, forcing him to straighten more than his sore injured abdominal muscles would allow. "Does that hurt? It's only a precursor to what is to come, if you don't tell me what I want to know. Remember that, because I'm going to give you one more opportunity to answer my questions." Hochstetter released his grip and tugged at the gloves on his hands, pulling them tight in anticipation. If I'm right, I will have two prisoners to take to Berlin, and you, Herr Baum, will be allowed to face your firing squad without any further punishment. It will be my gift to you, in exchange for what you will be giving me.

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Hogan looked at his watch.

"Why do you keep looking at your watch, Colonel Hogan?" Schultz asked yawning.

Hogan turned sharply, to look at the awakening Schultz. "I have a train to catch, Schultz," Hogan answered.

"What?" Schultz asked puzzled.

Hogan smiled. And Schultz, realizing Hogan was pulling his leg, frowned and mumbled, "Jolly joker!"

"I'm just trying to judge how much longer it's going to take us to finish this," Hogan lied.

"It can't be soon enough for me!" Schultz said.

"You? All you've had to do is sit there and watch us. We've done all the work," LeBeau pointed out.

"You think its easy sitting here making sure you boys behave? I've had to be alert every second," Schultz defended

"Yeah, yeah, Schultz, we know," LeBeau answered.

Kinch smiled at the conversation, doing his best to look relaxed.

Carter kept his eye on Hogan waiting for the signal, as he and Newkirk worked behind their welder's masks. Newkirk worked as slowly as he could to keep everyone in position for the plan to go into action.

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Klink set his schnapps down on the end-table and wiggled his feet where they rested on the footstool. He enjoyed ending his day with a quiet read and a relaxing drink. He didn't often have the opportunity. And this evening's opportunity was forced on him with the knowledge that Colonel Hogan and his men were not locked down in the barracks. He checked his watch. I'll make a surprise visit and check on their progress, in another hour, he thought. He would not have Hochstetter coming back and accusing him of being asleep and not knowing where his prisoners were or what they were doing should the underground decide to wreak havoc somewhere tonight. Turning the page in his book, he settled into his novel again.

Outside, the searchlights swept over a staff car as General Burkhalter passed through the gates unannounced. Well it certainly looks calm enough, he thought, as he took notice of the SS comprising half the guards in camp. Burkhalter rolled his eyes. I see what Klink means. Hochstetter hasn't given up on Hogan. The Major needs to stick to the civilian population and leave Colonel Hogan to the Luftwaffe.

The staff car pulled up in front of Klink's quarters and Burkhalter observed. The lights are still on in the Kommandant's quarter. Klink must still be up. Burkhalter looked at his watch and was surprised. Hmm, something's keeping him up tonight, It's well past his usual bedtime. Burkhalter climbed out of the car and ascended the steps to the porch. Pausing, he looked out across the quiet compound, content with the peacefulness he observed.

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Hochstetter exited the cooler with his prisoner and his eyes immediately sought Hogan out. Now Colonel Hogan, we'll see if Baum recognizes you. A satisfied smirk found its way onto Hochstetter's face as he thought. And if he does, I'll have you in chains and on your way to the Berlin Express, before Klink even knows you're gone.

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"General Burkhalter!" Klink jumped to his feet nearly dropping his monocle as Burkhalter strode in.

"At ease, Klink," Burkhalter ordered.

"General Burkhalter, what are you doing here?" Klink reached for his boots.

"I came to see that Major Hochstetter does not over-step his bounds."

"Oh," Klink waved off the concern and tugged on one of his boots. "Hochstetter is in the cooler, getting ready to transfer his prisoner."

"So that is why you're still up," Burkhalter concluded.

Klink cleared his throat. "Well, General, not exactly. Colonel Hogan and his men are working on our water outage and..."

"At this hour?" Burkhalter questioned.

"Yes, sir, it's a long story." Klink hoped to change the subject and offered, "Let me get you some schnapps, Herr General."

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Hogan watched the door to the cooler, expectantly. Where are they? Checking his watch he impatiently crossed his arms in front of him and waited.

The guards at the door to the cooler snapped to attention. Finally! Hogan thought as the door to the below ground prison opened. He drew in a deep breath andwaited until Hochstetter and his prisoner had cleared the gate into the compound. Then shrugging his shoulders as if chilled, Hogan zipped his half-closed jacket the rest of the way up.

LeBeau recognized the signal, grabbed a pipe fitting and began walking toward Hogan. "Ow!" LeBeau cried out as he stumbled over the end of the pipe Carter and Newkirk were working on, propelling them into the side of the truck as their end of the pipe swung around.

Carter purposely landed next to his explosives and hurriedly lit the fuse, setting off his display, before he and Newkirk moved away from the rapidly burning cord.

Hochstetter, oblivious to the activities taking place by the truck, motioned his two guards forward after he and Baum entered the compound. "Bring Colonel Hogan over here and be ready to take him on my command."

"Jawohl, Herr…"

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.!

The earth shook. Hochstetter pulled his PPK pistol out of its holster, while diving to the ground amid a rain of sparks and burning debris. The guards followed his lead pulling Baum down with them.

As the Germans dove for the dirt, Newkirk and Hogan came together for the handoff. "Be careful, Newkirk"

"Don't worry about a thing, Colonel." Newkirk smiled. "I could do it with me eyes closed."

Hogan gave an encouraging pat to Newkirk's shoulder. Then the two quickly separated, going off in opposite directions as the second wave of explosions began.

Kinch signaled to the barracks and then joined Newkirk, Carter and LeBeau as they rushed over to Hochstetter creating more confusion.

Hogan had only gone a few feet when a hot piece of debris hit him in the back of the head, knocking him to one knee. In his daze, his hand sought out the source of the pain and found a warm oozing wound. Shaking his head, he stumbled to his feet as the onward rush of prisoners, swept past him. I've got to get out of here before Hochstetter sees me. Forcing himself to stay focused, he continued through the mob of prisoners and disappeared.

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