Hi, my dear readers!

Thank you so much for the new given feedback despite my certainly big errors in writing and grammar. I'm absolutely glad that you put up with it during the last two chapters, and I'm happy to tell you that I got a new beta-reader. Thank you to 'Missy' for putting up with my rogue English and for editing the chapters now.

As I promised, this new update will be an emotional storm, because this chapter is about the whole trial Hochstetter (and the others, too) have to endure. Like I told you in the small prologue of the last chapter, justice was far from being real justice at Germany during the war, yet several laws and regards of morality, humanity and so on were still present. And those, who acted too cruel, were forced to face trial because their deeds weren't in agreement with the 'commons sense of honorable Germans' (sorry, not my words, but preambles of many verdicts which were handed down – correct or not, *sigh*).

So, be ready to accompany Klink, Schultz and also Schmitz on a rollercoaster and dance of the high-wire…

To wish 'fun' for such a dark topic is certainly not sensible, nonetheless I hope you're going to enjoy the chapter – and Klink being the 'Phoenix' once again.

Love,

Yours Starflight

Chapter 41 – Hochstetter's trial, part 2

The atmosphere in the courtroom tensed even more, as the chief-judge looked expectantly at Klink; waiting for the Oberst's statement that was in a way crucial for the Kommandant's further career and maybe even life.

Klink suppressed the shiver that ran down his back. He had to remain calm, or everything would be lost, not only for himself, but in the end for Robert, too. And this he couldn't allow.

'Attack is the best way of defense', his teacher had said once, and Wilhelm realized that this saying had never been truer than now.

Thinking of Robert, imagining his brown eyes, impish grin and passionate kisses, Klink felt some strength returning to him. Straightening his back he somehow managed to put up a good show of surprise. "Major Hochstetter wants to press charges…?" He shook his head and snorted: "Unbelievable!"

"Herr Oberst, please answer the Court's question," the SS-court-master reminded him. "Did you commit the crime of attacking a fellow-officer, namely Major Wolfgang Hochstetter?"

"It would have been a crime if I would have started the combat," Klink replied, "but in this case I only defended myself."

Hochstetter jumped up; face red. "That's a lie!" he shouted, bending forwards in his typical aggressive stance.

"Silence!" the chief-judge said sharply and shot the major a glare, before he glanced back at Klink. "Explain, please."

"As I entered the arrest cell in which the major 'questioned' my senior POW officer, he was waterboarding Colonel Hogan, whose movements had stilled. I quickly closed the distance to them and pulled the major away so that he would release the colonel but had no chance to address or to speak with him at all, because he instantly charged at me. I blocked his attack and punched back. As the major made another attempt of attacking me, I fought back which ended in the major laying on the ground."

"He is lying!" Hochstetter hissed again, baring his teeth.

"Are there any witnesses for the incident?" the prosecutor asked.

"Feldwebel Schultz, my leading Sergeant of the Guards, was directly behind me. I'm not sure what he did or did not see, but he waits outside of this courtroom to be questioned, too."

"We'll ask him," the chief-judge said at the same moment Hochstetter sneered:

"Schultz never knows anything. The guy is stupid like bundle straw!"

"Major Hochstetter, I warn you again!" the judge said sternly, before he nodded at Klink. "Go on, please."

"After the major lay on the floor, I turned to Colonel Hogan, checked on him, realized that his survival was a matter of seconds since he was no longer breathing, and began with the resuscitation procedures. At the same time, I heard my Sergeant of the Guards ordering Major Hochstetter to stay down. Only after I successfully got Hogan breathing and turned around, I saw that the major had sat up and gripped for his pistol – the obvious reason why Sergeant Schultz held him in check with his own weapon. I dare to suggest that, if it wouldn't have been for Sergeant Schultz, the major would have fired at me – even though I had turned my back towards him and was busy with saving a man's life."

"And you didn't try to reason with the major before it came to the combat?" the SS-court-master wanted to know. Again, Hochstetter rose to speak with a snarl:

"I wouldn't have… This man IS LYING!"

"SILENCE!" the chief-judge roared. "This is absolutely the last warning you get!"

Klink, who felt the heat of battle running through his body and mind, even if it was a battle of words, glanced quickly at Hochstetter before he glanced back at the judges. "Gentlemen, please have a closer look at the major right now. This is his normal display of temper when even something simple doesn't go his way."

The two judges glanced at the major and took in the blazing eyes, the flushed face and the silent snarl on the shorter man's lips. "I see," the SS-court-master said quietly.

Klink twisted the knife even more, as he added, "Just imagine his state of mind as I hindered him from his revenge on my senior POW officer, for whom he holds deep hatred. He wanted to kill Hogan before the colonel could be rescued, but I intervened in the very last second. The major's gaze and face told me everything, when he turned around with balled fists. He was in a murderous frenzy – and I had no time to lose if I wanted to prevent myself from getting hurt and to also save the colonel's life."

Hochstetter growled quietly and ignored his defense lawyer, who whispered hastily in his ear, "You told me this Oberst Klink is a boneless, babbling, fearful idiot. But he is the straight opposite!"

The major took a deep breath. "I don't know what happened to this fool. I never saw him like this," he hissed, while he stared with gleaming eyes at the camp-Kommandant.

Burkhalter leaned back on his seat and clasped his hands on his lap in a typical gesture. His eyes hung mainly on Klink, while he tried to hold his expression neutrally. Inwardly, he was utterly baffled just like Hochstetter. Klink had done it again – showing this new sternness and strong back-bone within the last three weeks. Usually the Saxonian would be quivering and babbling by now, after being questioned like this by two judges and a prosecutor, which in turn would tug on everyone's nerves, but not Klink. Not this time. He stood there in the witness stand – straight stance, hands on the back in a posture of pride and superiority, head held high. What, in God's name, had changed the man like this?

"May I ask, why the major holds so much hatred for your senior POW officer?" the SS-court-master asked next.

Klink sighed and shook shortly his head in intimate frustration. "They clashed from the beginning; yet concerning the major's hate I can only speculate. Hogan is a typical American. Brash, cocky, sometimes a prankster. An oversized boy-man who has the tendency to irritate everybody, but deep down he is a honorable man. Major Hochstetter has a very choleric temperament and seems to see an enemy of the Third Reich in every person that crosses his way. And he lacks the usual polite manners. It is no wonder that both men don't get along. Additionally, Hogan has a witty mind – and a loose tongue. I've lost count of the many times the major lost his discussions with Hogan, which increases his anger even more."

"And you think this is reason enough for the major to break a few laws and for his attempt to kill the colonel?" the chief-judge asked.

"It's one of the reasons," Klink corrected him. "The further reason is maybe the major's crazy idea that my senior POW officer is an active Underground member. He tried to convict him for more than a year now, but for naught. As it was already pointed out, there has never been a successful escape from my camp – therefore Hogan couldn't walk around freely in the area, working as a spy and saboteur."

"We've to change our tactics or everything is lost," the defense lawyer murmured towards Hochstetter and rose.

"Your Honors, concerning this particular topic, I think we should take the time to clear up this detail – after all, my client's conviction of hunting down the dangerous saboteur he sees in the colonel, has brought him into this situation. I've the statements from other SS-officers and Gestapo-members, who tried to bring some light in this riddle concerning the wanted spy and saboteur 'Papa Bear' and his assumed connection with Colonel Hogan."

"This trial is not about the question if this colonel is a spy or not," the chief-judge voiced calmly.

"Yet it is the point of departure that led in the end to this trial," the lawyer replied. "The accusers state that my client hunts a phantom and, as he didn't succeed, abused his position and rank to fulfill the personal wish for revenge on the suspect. But if he is right concerning his accusation against the colonel, it would mean that his harsh, yet necessary methods were appropriate and that a master-spy is still running freely around and endangers our country."

The chief-judge took a deep breath, exchanged a glance with the SS-court-master and the prosecutor, and lifted a hand. "Proceed!"

Klink tensed. This could lead to trouble. Dammit! Usually defense lawyer didn't take their task this seriously since justice was changed under Hitler, but somehow Hochstetter had gotten an attorney who seemed to be determined to prove his client's innocence. And the court was also willing to hear the 'poison-gnome' out – certainly because there weren't so many SS-officers left who also served in the Gestapo and could look back on a longer career.

"Thank you, Your Honor," Hochstetter's lawyer acknowledged and began with his defense argument. "Major Pruhst of the SS and Gestapo reached the same conclusion as Major Hochstetter last autumn, because a witness of one of 'Papa Bear's' sabotage acts described the man very well. The major was able to take a photo of Hogan and the witness affirmed that the man he saw and the man on the photo are identical. I took the liberty and spoke with Major Pruhst last week. He told me that he and Oberst Klink visited a party for Feldmarschall von Leiten in Hammelburg where he came across the mystery man. He was able to take another photo of him by using a small camera he had hidden in his gloves." He pulled something out from his documents. "And I've this photo and a photo of Colonel Hogan. Both men bear a great resemblance as you easily can see." He gave the photos to a court clerk, who offered them to the judge.

The chief-judge frowned as he looked at the two photos before he handed them to the SS-court-master.

In Wilhelm all warning bells were ringing. He hadn't known that Pruhst had taken a photo of Hogan at the party. This could turn into a disaster. He took a deep breath and collected himself. And where he in earlier times would have had a nervous fit, he became icily calm. Robert's life depended on this – his own life depended on the outcome of this trial – and he would give everything to protect his love and himself.

"The case was closed, because even Major Pruhst couldn't prove his theory to be true," he said. "I supported the major during his investigation and saw the man in the photo with my own eyes in person. Yes, he bears a great resemblance with my senior POW officer, but he is older, has grey hear and a grey moustache. He even spoke with a different voice. And, by the way, Hogan doesn't speak German that well."

"A trick from this damn Ami," Hochstetter hissed. "He has so many masks you could equip a whole theater with it!"

"Does the colonel speak German?" the defense lawyer wanted to know.

"A little bit – with a nasty accent. I myself began to teach him our language properly during the last weeks, because it hurts the ears to hear him speaking like this." Inwardly he crossed his fingers and asked Robert for forgiveness, because the younger man spoke a fluid German with a lovely 'r' sound Klink adored.

"You taught him German?" the defense lawyer asked flabbergasted.

"I'm still doing it – after all the whole world should speak our language after our great victory when this war is over," Klink shrugged nonchalant with a wide smile; baffled how easily he was able to lie through his teeth like this.

The defense lawyer stared at him, took a deep breath as he saw another one of his arguments go downhill, and asked, "And because of these things you concluded that the colonel can't be the man in the second photo."

"Yes, partly. Added to my personal observation concerning this Doppelganger, Colonel Hogan was the whole time in the camp as Major Pruhst and I probed the other man," Klink continued. "He was seen by dozens of my guards and had been watched by the Sergeant of the Guards. Hogan was the whole evening in Stalag 13. I don't think a human can be in two places at the same time."

General Burkhalter rose a hand. "May I add a detail to this topic, Your Honors?" As the judges nodded, the general stood. "During the time Colonel Hogan still suffered greatly from the injuries Major Hochstetter inflicted on him, there were two sabotage acts – one near Hammelburg, one in the north of Fulda. Both sabotages were done in the typical style of the infamous 'Papa Bear' that our Intelligence Service is after and of whom Major Hochstetter believes to be Hogan. But Hogan was even less able to walk at this time than now, which shows irrevocably that he couldn't be 'Papa Bear'. Both cases were investigated by Kriminalrat Lübkemeier and his team. The Kriminalrat as well as my good friend, Reichsführer Himmler, came to the same result: Papa Bear and Colonel Hogan are two different persons. There had been a great deal of evidence of this fact before – evidence Major Hochstetter ignored while he followed his obsession with the colonel instead of pursuing the real saboteur. If the High Court wishes to have a look at the documents of the investigation, I can arrange for it."

"This won't be necessary," the chief-judge decided. "As I said before, this trial is not about the question if the American colonel is a spy or not."

"Yet the whole case only happened because of the major's obsession with this theory," Burkhalter replied. "He couldn't convict Hogan, therefore he tried to get his revenge by kidnapping, tormenting and almost killing him – and by disobeying direct orders from me, I want to point out again."

"You want to prove that the major's state of mind is responsible for this mess?" the SS-court-master asked.

"No, I want to prove that the major is unable to fill his post and to do his job because of his inability to separate personal things from duty. Even more, he broke laws and rejected clear commands – and this is inacceptable." He sat down again.

"Objection!" the defense lawyer. "Even if General Burkhalter holds the higher rank than my client, Major Hochstetter belongs to the Gestapo and the Totenkopf-SS. He is not bound to obey orders from an officer of another military-unit."

"In this case the delineation becomes indistinct," the chief-judge disagreed. "The suspect is a POW of the Luftwaffe and therefore General Burkhalter's responsibility, which gives the general the right to intervene. There are also strict laws that an officer of the Luftwaffe must be present when a POW is questioned. This was not the case, so the general's order to stop any interrogation until his arrival had to be obeyed – something Major Hochstetter didn't do."

The defense lawyer pressed his lips shortly into a thin line and sorted his documents for a moment. The chief-judge watched him. "Does the defense have further questions for the witness?"

"Yes, I have," Hochstetter's lawyer nodded, left his place and stopped in front of the witness stand. "Oberst Klink, we've heard several times that there hadn't been one single successful escape from your camp – except for the POW who informed you about the colonel's imprisonment at the Gestapo-Headquarters and that the SS was in charge of Stalag 13. Compared with the other POW-camps is this indeed an incredible merit. Yet my client brought to my attention that he saw Colonel Hogan and some of his men out of the camp in Hammelburg a few times – together with you or your guards. Care to explain how this can happen?"

Klink frowned. "Easy, we've a medic, yes, but when it comes to more serious issues concerning the POWs' health the doctors in Hammelburg have to be consulted. This is the usual procedure and goes hand in hand with the Geneva Convention."

The defense lawyer nodded. "Yes, this I understand. What I do not understand is the fact that you allowed the colonel and a few of his men to enter a private house in which a member of the Underground was assumed to be, while you stood outside of the building and…"

Klink began to chuckle – to Burkhalter's rising alarm and the judges' confusion. But Wilhelm wasn't folding; he put on another show of bravery, as he looked at Hochstetter and said, "You really picked up this incident for your defense – whatever defense strategy you and your lawyer are using?"

"May I ask the defense lawyer for the reason he speaks of this incident – even if it is an odd one?" the chief-judge wanted to know, and Hochstetter's lawyer turned around.

"My client is a highly decorated, praised and very successful member of the Gestapo."

"Yes, this was clear to see within the last year," Burkhalter sneered under his breath, caught a warning glance from the SS-court-master and nodded in silent apology.

"His high success-rate only comes to a halt as soon as Oberst Klink, his senior POW officer and the inner circle of the colonel are involved," the lawyer continued. "Major Hochstetter has suspected the Oberst for a while now to be a sympathizer with the Allies, and maybe he works hand in hand with Colonel Hogan, which would explain the POW's presence in Hammelburg a few times. And because the major blew down their necks, they try to muzzle him by discrediting him now."

"This is an offense!" Burkhalter said, rising while he flushed. "You accuse officially a high ranking officer of my staff, decorated with the Iron Cross for his courage as he saved two dozen recruits by presenting himself as the target towards hostile air-fighters! Also, he enjoys my full trust as well as that of Reichsmarschall Goering. My good friend Reichsführer Himmler himself has cleared him of any suspicion. So, before you accuse Klink between the lines of conspiring with the enemy, you had better have some proof for this outrageous assertion!"

Klink couldn't help himself; even IF he sympathized with the Allies, it felt good that Burkhalter suddenly came to his defense and stood up for him like this. Maybe the general did hold some respect for him after all.

"I'm just coming to it," the defense lawyer answered casually, before he turned his attention back to Klink. "Please explain how it was possible that your senior POW officer and a few of his men were in Hammelburg in a private house that held a spy who had vanished as Major Hochstetter was finally able to enter the building."

"Yes, this is something I wanted to know since then," Hochstetter agreed.

The SS-court-master lifted a brow and addressed the major. "You saw the POWs outside of the camp and didn't act on it?"

"First I met only Klink and he babbled a lot but nothing at all," Hochstetter snarled. "Just like always! Then Hogan and three of his men appeared from the building. I demanded answers for their presence there, but Klink didn't tell me anything." He glared at the Kommandant. "And this is highly suspicious, too!"

"This is indeed… strange," the chief-judge spoke his mind. "Herr Oberst, please explain what happened this day."

Klink took a deep breath. 'Don't lose your nerves now, Wilhelm. 'Play it cool' as Hogan would say or everything is lost!' he encouraged himself. "I'm not sure how familiar you are with the usual routine in a POW camp, Your Honors, Herr Verteidiger (Mr. Defender). POWs are doing jobs under the watch of guards – not only repairing streets, working in a factory or re-building facilities. They also help to do the daily purchases of the things which are needed. During one of those tasks one of the POWs flirted with a young woman – not once but a few times within the next days. He managed it to slip away with her, what was recognized by my men within a short range of time. Of course we started a search operation what could have ended nasty for said POW. Colonel Hogan, as his superior, had heard about the man's beginning liaison and approached me, asking if he could come with me because he had an idea where to find the man."

"He gave one of his own men away?" Hochstetter's attorney asked surprised.

"He had no other choice if he wanted to save him. When a POW is caught during an escape, he usually gets shot. If he surrenders, he'll be punished. Hogan pleaded with me to give him a chance to convince his underling to surrender before it came to the worst. There has never been a death-case in my camp, because I treat the prisoners hard but fair, and make certain that the simplest but necessary conditions for life are fulfilled. And I wanted it to remain this way. Therefore, I agreed to the colonel's request, but accompanied him in person. We found the house the POW had spoken of with his comrades during earlier occasions, Hogan and the closest friends of said POW went inside, convinced him to surrender, returned and we drove back to the camp."

"You let them go inside there alone?" the prosecutor cut in.

"Colonel Hogan gave me his word of honor not to flee, that also went for the two men who accompanied him. He never broke his word in earlier times whenever he was outside of the camp to watch his men doing commanded work. The same goes for the two POWs who accompanied him."

"Which belong to Hogan's inner circle," Hochstetter cut in.

"Yes, that's correct. And where is the problem? I know these men and can be sure that they keep their promises. Therefore, I saw no reason to deny the colonel his request."

"Of course not, after all you two are best buddies," Hochstetter scoffed.

"Nonsense, we only talk with each other in a civil manner," Klink replied impatiently.

"He has wrapped you around his little finger, Klink!" the major snarled, flushing again.

Before the chief-judge could call for discipline once more, Klink gave his opponent an arrogant half-smile, while he deadpanned wryly, "Nu, I always thought that only Hogan believes this. I'm surprised that you fell for this little trick, too."

The trainees began to chuckle at this dry comment that was spoken with a broad Saxonian dialect.

"Silence!" the chief-judge called, but Burkhalter could see a short spark of amusement before the man controlled himself again. The general glanced back at Klink. He almost admired the younger man for this performance of superiority, cleverness and sleekness. As it seemed, he had underestimated him a lot.

"So, you allowed the colonel to walk freely around in Hammelburg," the defense lawyer came back to the subject of discussion without any pause.

"He didn't walk 'freely around in Hammelburg', only in a house."

"In which a spy was located," Hochstetter's defender pointed out.

"And how should I know this – or Hogan?"

"Because Major Hochstetter told you about an apparent radio-man of the Underground in Hammelburg earlier."

"So?" Klink cocked his head. "The major speaks a lot and very loud whenever he is in my camp, but he never gives me any details. And, besides, we've thousands of houses in Hammelburg. How should I know that he assumed the spy was in the same building Hogan and I drove to?"

The defense lawyer narrowed his eyes. "You allow your POWs a lot, as it seems. A free drive to the town to save an escaped prisoner, discussions between the Gestapo and your senior POW officer… Your leadership style is extraordinary."

"Yes – and certainly the reason for my null-escape-record," the Oberst nodded with a smile.

"Yes, because the POWs and he are in the same boat," Hochstetter hissed beneath his breath.

"That's big Stuss (Saxonian for nonsense)!" Klink huffed. "Only because we don't insult each other at every given chance doesn't mean that we are on the same page. I'm a loyal officer of the Luftwaffe who has kept the German virtue of politeness and manners, nothing more, nothing else!"

"Yet it seems that you grant your senior POW officer more benefits than necessary," the lawyer replied coolly. "Colonel Hogan's alibi three weeks ago, is that he played chess with you at the evening he was presumably seen in Hammelburg."

"Correct. What's wrong with it?" Klink asked brusquely.

"The report says you played chess 'til two o'clock in the morning. Is there no curfew in your camp?"

The Kommandant rolled his eyes. "Of course there is a curfew, but it's a difference if hundreds of POWs would stroll over the compound during the late evening or night, or if the two highest ranking officers of the camp are playing chess in a separate, guarded room."

"'til two o'clock in the morning?" the defense lawyer pressed.

Klink shrugged. "We got carried away. This happens when two chess-players are on the same level." As the defense lawyer only stared at him, he added with another smirk. "There is the saying that chess it the 'game of kings'. I rather take it as a game of strategy in which the better strategist wins. It's a kind of battle of minds and intelligence without weapons and blood-shed. Members of the military love to play it. Maybe you should test it yourself."

Again there were some amused snorts and quiet laughter which stopped the moment the chief-judge cleared his throat. Looking at Klink, he asked dryly, "I hope you won?"

"I won the first match, Hogan the second one and the third was a remis. We wanted to play a fourth game, but we suddenly realized the late hour. We agreed on a resume a week later – but it never came to it thanks to Major Hochstetter's new display of obsession."

"At the same level, indeed," the judge murmured, before he took a deep breath.

"It is a violation of the rules that a POW is allowed to be out of his barracks this late in the night," the defense lawyer said strongly. "It shows that…"

"It shows that at least some civilian habits haven't died by now," the chief-judge interrupted him. "I myself am a passionate chess-player and I can understand that someone – especially two trained officers – forgetting time when caught in a good match; enemies or not. This is no crime, only a breach of rules." He glanced at Burkhalter. "Seeing that you got the Oberst's report before the High Court did, I assume that you rebuked him for this slip of discipline."

The Austrian man gave him one of his false smiles. "Of course, Your Honor, the Oberst got an earful from me," he said, nodding with a sharp glance in Klink's direction.

The chief-judge lifted a brow. "I thought so. Back to the topic. Has the defense any real proofs for the accusation you made against the Oberst?"

"Oberst Klink had some serious issues with the Gestapo and SS during the last years. He was arrested in Paris because suspicion was aroused against him as a member of the Underground," the defense lawyer picked up the thread instantly.

Burkhalter lifted his hand. "The SS-colonel in charge was later sentenced because of illegal businesses he ran. Oberst Klink had tracked him down and the major felt threatened by him, so he abused his position again by arresting the Oberst. In the end he was caught red-handed concerning his 'additional income'. I'm sure, the honorable Court-Master can provide this court with the investigation reports, if necessary."

"I remember this case. It was tried by one of my colleagues in France," the SS-court-master nodded. "Colonel Backsheider was found guilty."

"So, again an accusation with the solid base of a bubble," the chief-judge sighed. "I can't shake off the feeling that the defense tries to discredit the witness to present his own client in a better light." He glanced at the SS-court-master: "Do you have any further questions for Oberst Klink?"

"No, I haven't."

"Good. Oberst Klink, please have a seat beside General Burkhalter, but be prepared to answer some more questions during the interrogation of Sergeant Schultz concerning you hand-to-hand-combat with Major Hochstetter. Thank you for your time!" and he let the gavel down.

"Thank you, Your Honor," Klink answered and left the witness stand – to Burkhalter's relief without a long speech of gratefulness, demands and silly statements he had feared to hear from the Kommandant.

'He really has changed – or has he only restored some old strengths I didn't know about before? I ask myself, what triggered it,' the general thought to himself.

The door opened and Schultz was led into the courtroom. Looking at Klink and then at the judges, he gulped. He felt utterly forlorn and uncertain, yet he knew that maybe his statements were crucial for his superior's and this crazy Ami's survival – not a pleasant situation he found himself in.

"Please identify yourself, Sergeant," the chief-judge said, seeing with one gaze that he faced a rather simple mind.

"Joa-mei, I'm Hans Georg Schultz," the large Bavarian introduced himself, listened shortly to the court clerk who pointed at the witness stand, ducked his head with a "Sorry!" and closed the distance to the place of interrogation. As soon as he had entered the witness stand, he cleared his throat, he lifted his chin and snapped to attention. "Feldwebel Hans Georg Schultz, Sergeant of the Guards in Luft-Stammlager 13," he reported.

"Well, Sergeant, please tell us what happened the evening Major Hochstetter came to Stalag 13 to arrest the senior POW officer Colonel Hogan, and what followed then."

Again the whole story was told, this time from Schultz' point of view. Like this it was brought to the court's attention that Hochstetter obviously failed to inform the camp about the fact that Oberst Klink was missing after the air raid and assumed dead, but in return came to Stalag 13 to arrest Hogan a second time only half an hour after he learned by accident of Klink's survival and move to the hospital later in the morning. And it was not less interesting for the judges and the others to obtain confirmation that Klink only defended himself after confronting the major in the cellars of the Gestapo-Headquarters the next day.

Schultz was sweating like mad as the defense lawyer addressed him about this special detail. "You said, you were behind the Oberst and had a free view on the scene. Yet, when the Oberst was directly in front of you, his body certainly blocked a free view. How can you be so sure that it was my client who attacked first?"

Schultz wished himself far away, but he knew that he had – for once – to stand his ground. "The basin, where Colonel Hogan was waterboarded, was more to the left of the door and Oberst Klink was two or three steps ahead of me. Therefore I had a clear view of everything."

Hochstetter's attorney nodded slowly, before he suddenly changed the topic. "How long are you serving at Stalag 13?"

"From the beginning," Schultz answered.

"And Oberst Klink took over command a year after the camp's founding. Therefore you can compare his and his predecessor's leadership style. Are there any abnormalities?"

"What's that for a question?" Schultz asked; confused.

"Just answer it!"

Hans frowned. Something was wrong here – and he had a very good idea, what it was. Hochstetter and his lawyer tried to frame Klink. But not with Schultz! Not if he could help it!

"Of course every Kommandant has a different style. I've served under seven different COs in the first war and two in this war. They all differ from each other. But concerning Oberst Klink I can only say that he is stern and firm, but also fair. Not only to his underlings, but also to his prisoners. He…"

"Oh, come on, Schultz!" Hochstetter complained. "I don't know how often he groused about or with you whenever I was in the camp, and now you try to assure us that you and he are…"

"Major Hochstetter! This is enough! Thirty days arrest for disorderly behavior!" the chief-judge cut in sternly.

The major stared at him; his face flushing an unhealthy red.

"Of course there has been misunderstandings and disagreements here and there," Schultz continued as if nothing happened, even if he felt inwardly some glee that finally someone put the choleric major into his place. "But I deeply respect the Oberst, and I'm honored to serve under such a fine man."

Klink knew that this was a little bit exaggerated, yet there was a fierce undertone in Schultz' voice, and it warmed him. The large Bavarian was really a friend, even if they had – indeed – their quarrels. He was glad to count Schultz as part of his staff.

The SS-court-master had a few questions, too, then Schultz was relieved from the questioning, and with weak knees he walked over to Burkhalter and Klink. The latter gave him a short nod; more Wilhelm didn't dare to do. He would thank Schultz later.

The two judges talked with each other for a short time, before they turned towards the prosecutor. "Are there any more witnesses you need to question for this trial?" the chief-judge wanted to know.

The man nodded. "Yes, Your Honor, I want to interrogate a further witness concerning the processes in the cellars of the Gestapo-Headquarters in connection with the insubordination Major Hochstetter is accused of. This man was on duty the evening prior and in the early morning when the deeds took place and he had a crucial part in the whole case."

Lifting a brow again, the chief-judge made an affirming gesture "Proceed."

"I call Oberleutnant Horst Schmidt of the SS into the witness stand," the prosecutor said and watched from the edge of his eyes, how Hochstetter tensed, gasped for air and then turned red with wrath, while baring his teeth. General Burkhalter and Oberst Klink were right. This man's choleric temperament certainly made him break boundaries, legal or not.

The door opened and Schmidt stepped into the courtroom; carrying the long, thin bag he had brought with him. His look firmly fixed on the judges, he entered the witness stand, saluted and said, "Oberleutnant Horst Schmidt, commanding officer of the Gestapo-Headquarters in Hammelburg, member of the SS, reports in to be questioned, Your Honors."

The chief-judge tilted his head a little bit, while the SS-court-master nodded openly; obviously pleased to face one of his own executive unit who, above all, acted with calm but strong politeness. "At ease, Herr Oberleutnant," he said neutrally, but with a kind undertone in his voice.

"Herr Oberleutnant," the prosecutor began, "Oberst Klink's report and the official statement of Colonel Hogan speak of you being present in the cellars and having an active part in the whole matter. Please tell us what you saw and heard in those hours."

Schmidt took a deep breath, before he began to tell of him being ordered to arrange a curfew in whole Hammelburg the day Colonel Hogan had been arrested. He returned in the late evening when everything was organized, found the headquarters in relative silence and retired to find some sleep, only to wake up early in the morning. He spoke of the screams he heard from downstairs again – just like in the late afternoon prior – and he knew that something had to be wrong. He went for the cellars, only to hear how the officer on duty tried to fob off someone at the telephone in the anteroom of Hochstetter's office, saying that the major wasn't in the HQ and therefore not available. Yet Schmidt had heard the major's voice from the cellars only a minute ago. Becoming highly suspicious of what was really going on, he took over the phone, realized that it was a call from Berlin and obviously not for the first time, and took action. He spoke with General Burkhalter's office and learned that any interrogations of the prisoner had to be stopped instantly until the general would appear in person.

"I told the general's office that there seemed to be a misunderstanding concerning Major Hochstetter's availability, because he was present in the HQ and that I would get the major at the phone immediately. I put the receiver on the desk, ordered the officer on duty to leave the line open and went down into the cellars. I heard moans and stifled screams during my way downstairs, and I was aware that I would see something nasty, but this…" he hesitated.

"Please go on," the chief-judge invited him to continue after a few seconds.

Schmidt straightened: "Major Hochstetter was not questioning the new prisoner, he was torturing him." At that, the first whispers of surprise were heard. "The colonel hung in handcuffs from the ceiling, bathed in sweat, upper body bare and covered with lashes, bruises and other wounds, face barely recognizable anymore." The whispers became louder. "And the major was about to brand him."

"This is a lie!" Hochstetter snapped again.

Schmidt ignored him. "The colonel begged him to contact Oberst Klink, who was in hospital but could confirm that he hadn't been in Hammelburg a few evenings prior meeting an Underground member, like he was accused of, but the major didn't listen." The murmurs became stronger. "He threatened to brand the colonel if he didn't give him the admissions and answers he desired!"

"LIES!" Hochstetter raged and leaped to his feet, while the justice-trainees began to discuss with each other. Schmidt used the rising chaos to drive another point home and raised his voice.

"And I have the proof of the major's illegal intention here!" He opened the bag and took out the iron with the double-S at the front. Lifting it, he said strongly, "This is the poker Major Hochstetter had threatened to brand the colonel with. I came into the room as he stood in front of the prisoner and was about to press the glowing runes to the man's bare side – square over bleeding lashes and other injuries!"

The chief-judge was taken aback as he stared at the iron proof – literarily – then he waved for the court clerk to bring him the poker, while the trainees, Burkhalter and even Klink talked with each other.

"Objection! This poker could be from anywhere!" the defense lawyer cut in.

"I'm ready to make an oath on the bible that this is the poker Major Hochstetter threatened the colonel with!" Schmidt answered sharply. "He was about to use it like a torture-master in the middle-ages, and this is far beyond any limits! The Gestapo has to use strong methods to reveal dangers to our country, but this is barbaric and beneath dignity."

The voices were very loud now, but Klink only listened with a half ear. He had known of what Robert had been through after he saved him from Hochstetter's clutches but learning now in detail what his beloved was forced to endure, made him nauseous. He fought the urge to close his eyes, while his hands clamped around the armrests, knuckles turning white. He wanted nothing more than to return the camp, taking Rob in his arms and cherishing every inch of him; kissing every scar and still healing injury to worship and to comfort him again.

"This is a biased trial!" Hochstetter's voice tore Klink out of the haze that was about to overwhelm him. He looked over at the major, who discussed something with reddened face with his lawyer, and icy fury woke in Wilhelm. He would do everything in his power that this monster would get his rightful punishment!

"Silence in the courtroom!" the chief-judge called and let his gavel slam down on the desk surface twice. "I will not allow any further turmoil from anyone in this courtroom!" Only slowly did the men present calm down, and the Oberfeldrichter looked everyone firmly in the eyes, while the SS-court-master addressed the young man in the witness stand again.

"How came you into the poker's possession?"

"I took it with me after Major Hochstetter left the cell. I ordered the guards to let the colonel down from the ceiling and to give the man something to drink. I had heard enough of what was going on and wanted to go the hospital to get Oberst Klink, who was the only one who could confirm the colonel's obviously correct alibi."

"'Obviously correct alibi'?" the defense lawyer asked.

"Show me someone who continues to lie when he is about to get a glowing iron pressed in the unprotected side of his bruised and bleeding body. The colonel was terrified and desperate enough to admit everything to spare him this further agony, and that he didn't do it showed me that there simply wasn't anything to admit. Anyone could realize this – certainly even Major Hochstetter, but he didn't, because he wanted his captive to suffer. So I decided to get Oberst Klink; hoping to put a real stop on this insanity. I went to my room, hid the poker, and left the HQ to go to the hospital, but Oberst Klink had already arrived. We went down into the cellars and came in the very last moment to prevent Major Hochstetter from drowning the colonel by waterboarding him for too long – despite that General Burkhalter had ordered through his assistant that every questioning should be stopped instantly!"

More whispers were heard.

"Are you ready to make an oath that Major Hochstetter indeed intended to use this poker as a branding-iron against the prisoner?" the SS-court-master wanted to know, and Schmidt nodded determined.

"Yes, Your Honor, I am. I interrupted the torture and…"

"Objection!" the defense lawyer cut in and rose. "Threats are no torture."

"I beg to differ," the prosecutor rose to speak. "It is one thing if you threaten someone with a simple slap but another to threaten with a burning iron that is a few centimeters away from your exposed chest."

"The man in question is a trained soldier and officer. He knew what could happen if he was caught as he attacked our country by flying air-raids. The branding hadn't taken place, so it's not torture," Hochstetter's lawyer replied stubbornly.

"In this case I want to voice a protest, because Colonel Hogan suffers from a strong trauma concerning this special 'method of questioning', Major Hochstetter was about to use!" Klink said sternly, eyes grim. He would never forgive Hochstetter this special thing – that the major had tried to brand Robert like an animal.

"A trauma?" the defense lawyer asked, scoffing. "The most soldiers are more or less traumatized when they return from the field."

Klink rose and looked inquiringly at the chief-judge who nodded in a silent agreement to go on.

"You said it yourself, Herr Verteidiger: 'When they return from the field' – but Colonel Hogan is a POW for almost three years now and shielded from the war's cruelty. Yet he is deeply traumatized because of what happened as he was in Major Hochstetter's clutches – especially concerning this attempted branding. The treating physician attested a serious trauma that can mark him for the rest of his life, just like the physical scars he got." He drove his attention to the chief-judge, and added with venom, "And the Herr Verteidger says 'a threat is no torture'. Torment can be both: physically and psychologically. And exactly this happened to my senior POW officer."

Some murmurs were heard again, which the chief-judge cut off with a wave of his right hand, before he nodded at Klink (who took his seat again). Then he glanced shortly at the poker the court-master offered him after examining it, shook his head slightly, placed the iron on the desk in front of him and glanced finally back at Schmidt.

"Herr Oberleutnant, the listed accusations against Major Hochstetter include an abuse of his rank by using his position to get personal revenge. Seeing what methods the major was ready to use on the colonel, this part of the listed charges seems to be correct. Is there anything you heard or witnessed that can confirm that this whole matter took place because of personal reasons from the side of the major?"

"Yes, Your Honor," Schmidt nodded; ready to pull his next card out of the sleeve. "As I went down into the cellars to get the major after I took the call from Berlin, I heard the major laughing about the prisoner's despair with obvious glee. When I interfered by telling the major that General Burkhalter's assistance is in the line and demands to speak with him, he became very angry and wanted to send me away, saying that he 'wasn't available'. As I insisted that he accept the call he became even more furious to be interrupted like this, but at least went away after I told him that General Burkhalter had threatened to obtain his arrest otherwise. Major Hochstetter threw the poker back into the fire-basket and told the colonel not to cheer too early, because he would get the truth out of him when he would be back, even if he had 'to brand every inch of his body'. I also learned from two guards, which were called into the major's office the morning prior to take the arrested colonel to the cellars, how the major told the colonel with a smile that he 'would break him' and that he was going to be 'his masterpiece'."

New whispers were heard, and the chief-judge pressed his lips shortly into a thin line – for the uncounted time by now. He glanced at Hochstetter, who had gritted his teeth and whose face sported some violently red spots.

"Those two guards heard this?" he asked, and Schmidt nodded.

"This and more, Your Honor. Two other guards, who had duty during the night, also confirmed that they heard the major giving order to the officer on duty, Corporal Huber, to tell anybody, who would call from General Burkhalter's office, that he wasn't available, no matter the topic. They also witnessed the most of Colonel Hogan's 'interrogation'." He opened the bag again. "As I got the summons as a witness for today, I ordered the four guards to give a written statement of all they heard and saw in those hours. I have those reports here." He pulled out the sheets and offered them the court clerk. "The men are ready to affirm their reports by declaring it under oath."

The chief-judge took the documents and looked them through, before he gave the first pages to the SS-court-master; continuing to read the rest.

Hochstetter had turned white like a tablecloth, and Klink balled his fists in triumph. Yes!

"The reports read that Major Hochstetter continued to 'questioning' the colonel with 'harsh methods' the whole night; only taking breaks when the prisoner passed out. They also declared that he seemed to take a sick pleasure in doing so, addressing the prisoner with pet-names and false kindness before he inflicted new injuries on him," the SS-court-judge murmured, yet his voice was loud enough to be heard by everyone.

This time Klink couldn't prevent it. He closed his eyes and felt nauseous to the core.

Sadism!

He had feared that Hochstetter could have this streak, but to get the affirmation of it because the major lived out this sick weakness on Robert, was about to make Wilhelm vomit.

"Klink, get a grip," Burkhalter whispered beside him under his breath. "I know that this is rough, but we've to appear neutral if we want to win this trial."

Hochstetter had balled his hands into fists. He knew that he was about to lose the case.

A few minutes elapsed, in which the two judges and the prosecutor read through the documents. Taking a deep breath, the SS-court-master watched the defendant and the defense lawyer, who were talking with each other intently, while the chief-judge's gaze wandered to the general, the Oberst and a very pale sergeant, who appeared to be ready to throw up. And it didn't slip his attention that the camp-Kommandant was a living example of a human stone, but his eyes shone with a fierce fire.

Bending towards the chief-judge he said something and his colleague nodded.

Rising, the chief-judge declared, "The members of the Court will retire for a deliberation. The trial will be continued in half an hour." His gavel came down on the desk again, before he, the SS-court-master and the prosecutor stepped down from the podium and left the courtroom.

Burkhalter rose, too, and nodded at his three companions, who followed him outside into the corridor.

And no-one was aware of the firestorm that was heading on metal wings towards Berlin…

TBC…

Well, this was a chapter without Hogan & Co., but I think that Hochstetter's trial was something you all looked forward to, and it needed a lot of details, because – come on! – there are so many evidences within the TV-show that the German Intelligence Service, the SS and the Gestapo was hair-widths away from revealing Papa Bear that it had be summed one day.

I also loved to show Klink, once again, in this new light. There is the saying that to find true love gives you a new life, and in his case this is really happening. During the TV-show it became obvious – here and there – that Klink can be a warrior if he is enough provoked or threatened, but now the one he really loves it at stake (and also his own life). And – voila – he gets a back-bone again.

It also was fun to write something about Hochstetter again, yet I hope it became obvious that the man is about to really 'lose' it. His character bases on the desire to make himself a name, to succeed and to show his 'genius', on the other hand he has a kind of paranoia and narcissism. For the first time ever it was him who was on the other side of the bars and have to endure the 'shame' of being accused of something, while partly several details were twisted and used against him – just like he did it certainly countless times with other people. To be on the receiving end of such an unfair treatment is going to initiate another chain of events you'll read about later.

Just right now, in the next chapter, you'll learn about the verdict. But where victory shines, shadows are not far away, so be ready for another wild rollercoaster (the last sentence of the chapter is a hint…).

I hope you liked the new chapter that was certainly better to read because of my errors being smoothed out (thanks to my new beta-reader). I'd love to learn what you think about the whole trial so far, so please let me share your thoughts.

Have a nice rest of the week,

Love

Yours Starflight