As Hogan entered Barracks 2, he called out, "Okay, everyone, gather round."

His staff and others sat at the table and leaned off the bunks, and he continued. "Just as we need to get ready for our plans, the Jerrie's have decided to add to their plans. We will be getting several hundred more prisoners tomorrow."

Everyone started talking at once.

"There's no room, we're packed to the ruddy gills!" exclaimed Newkirk.

"We have guys sleeping on the floor now," said Carter.

They all continued until Hogan raised his hand. "Hold it, hold it. I know how bad it is. And in the short term, it's only going to get worse. Klink actually though, has a plan that may help us. And in more ways than one."

Hogan walked over to the bed closest to the door. He reached up and pulled down a map of the camp that scrolled down from the underside. "Klink's gonna let us be in charge of construction for some new barracks. And this will involve us all the way through the process, from cutting the wood to building the new huts. We need more wood – Kinch, you reported last week that two of the tunnels needed shoring up. Instead of huts like this one, designed for 15 men and currently with 30, or the bigger huts that have 100 men now, we will design four new barracks designed for 250 men. It will be better insulated, easier to heat, and help us with the overcrowding."

Hogan stared at the map. "I can talk Klink into expanding the camp to the south. The emergency tunnel goes east, Tunnels Mike and Charlie go north and west. Frank will have to be closed up, and re-opened when we expand out. Besides, the trees are bigger and better on that side of camp."

He turned to Kinch, "Any word from London yet?"

"No, sir. Baker is monitoring the radio now. Our regular call isn't due for about a half hour."

"I'll be down there, just in case." Hogan turned to Carter. "Carter, go tell Wilson that more prisoners are coming in tomorrow, we may need to set up a larger infirmary."

Turning a little more, "LeBeau, they will probably not have eaten, we will need to start getting them healthy. Can your teams take care of that?"

"Of course, mon colonel, we will see they have food. The filthy boche probably haven't fed them for days!"

Hogan turned again to face Newkirk. "Newkirk, we will need all the extra blankets, mattresses, and probably clothing we can spare."

"Colonel, I don't think we even have that much. We've been stocking up for our plans to go out, not in."

"I know, but I also know that these new POW's may be in bad shape. London has told us of forced marches. We will NOT lose anyone we don't have too when we are getting closer to the end."

"Oh, everybody pass the word – no information to the new guys until we can get them checked out. This would be an easy time to insert a gestapo agent in with a large group of other prisoners."

One half an hour later, Hogan was standing next to Baker and Kinchloe as the nightly communication with London began.

"Mama Bear calling Papa Bear, do you read us, Papa Bear?"

Baker answered, "We read you, Mama Bear."

"Good News, Papa Bear. Plans have been approved at the highest level. Priority is being given to your requests for support. Additional personnel have been assigned to assist, will arrive by mail tomorrow at 2300 hours, usual location. Anything else?"

Hogan to the microphone from Baker. "Mama Bear, prisoner movement makes us anticipate need for extra medical and personal needs. Request additional supplies be dropped."

"How many prisoners are being added?" Mama Bear asked.

"Only information we have is several hundred, probably after forced march."

"Understood, Papa Bear, will attempt to find correct supplies to add to your order, Mama Bear out."

Hogan turned to Kinch. "Kinch, you take enough men out tomorrow night to secure whatever they are sending in, we will need those supplies."

"Got it, Colonel," Kinch replied.

Hogan turned next to Baker. "Baker, I may need you and Kinch out in the field, how many others have you gotten trained to monitor this radio?"

"We have at least a two-dozen trained, both in operation and code. We also have six other radios all set and ready to travel with the teams. Figuring at least two operators with each team, we're still left with a surplus of trained men."

"Good work both of you. It's been a long day, and it's not even night yet. I think I need to start working on Klink."

####

Hogan walked across the compound to the Kommandant's office. Hilda was at her desk. Schultz was leaning across her desk, attempting to make small talk. The look on her face showed that he would never get anywhere.

"Oh, Colonel Hogan, how good to see you!" Hilda exclaimed!

Schultz straightened up, "Colonel Hogan, you should not be out of the barracks, this is verboten."

"Don't worry Schultzy, I just have to see the Kommandant for a minute."

"But the Kommandant does not want to be disturbed."

"It'll only take a minute."

Schultz was raising his voice, "Nein, nein, nein, I cannot let you in!"

Hogan sighed, "Okay, Schultz. But tomorrow, when the new prisoners are sleeping in your bed, you're going to have wanted me to talk to the Kommandant."

"But that would be verboten, prisoners are not allowed in the guards' quarters."

The door to Colonel Klink's office opened up. "Colonel Hogan, why am I not surprised to see you here? What is it you want?"

"Well sir," Hogan replied, "I know we have several tents in supply, I was hoping to use those along with any others we could find, for temporary housing for tomorrows arrivals."

"Ja, ja, for once you make sense," Klink said. "Schultz! Get in here!" he hollered.

The office door opened, "You wanted to see me, Kommandant?"

"Take a truck and a work detail, get as many tents, mattresses and blankets as they will give you," Klink ordered. "Take Corporal Langenscheidt with you to make sure they don't try to escape."

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant."

Schultz left the office. Hogan turned to face Colonel Klink. "Sir, are you alright?"

"Of course I'm alright, there's just so much to do, and we are going to be seriously above our capacity. I'm afraid it will get worse before it gets better."

"What makes you think it will be getting worse?"

"These are not the first prisoner transfers, and the numbers are getting bigger. Soon we will be past our ability to manage the sheer number of prisoners." Klink turned to look Hogan in the eyes. "I am very afraid of not being able to keep everyone safe, and I do mean everyone, not just your men, but mine too."

"I can control my men."

"Ja, ja, now. But how about with the men added tomorrow, or next week? What happens when it gets cold, or the men don't have enough to eat? The Gestapo and the SS do not have the forgiveness I do, you know."

"The Iron Kommandant is well known for his sense of fair play," Hogan quipped.

"You laugh, Hogan. I seriously worry about what happens if we do have any escapes, or a riot, or Berlin takes away control of the camp from me and gives it to anyone else."

"Colonel Klink, you and I have had our share of arguments. But, I know you have always tried to make sure the prisoners here have been well treated. You also should be starting to realize that the war is not going well. When the time comes for us to be repatriated, we will not bring charges against you."

"Colonel Hogan, the glorious Third Reich will defeat...!" Klink bowed his head. "Hogan, I am a career officer. I hear the broadcasts every day. The glorious victories each day are a little closer to the homeland. I can read a map."

"Kommandant, that's been true since D-day. There's no stopping the forces coming at Germany from two sides."

"Please don't remind me of D-day!" snapped Klink. "It's a miracle I survived! I know they blamed General von Scheider, and he hasn't been seen since. If the other generals hadn't covered up my own involvement so they didn't look as gullible, I would have been shot!" (1)

"Yeah, it's funny he was never found. He's probably living in California right now."

"But how, Hogan? How could even the Chief of Staff arrange what he did?" Klink asked.

"We're only colonels, Kommandant. The ways of the General Staff are mysteries."

Klink looked directly at Hogan, "Are they really, Hogan? Too much about that was strange. Again, you got yourself involved. I know you made the suggestion to the other generals that it was von Scheider's fault. Why did you help me then?"

"For exactly the reason you said a little while ago, Kommandant. You have tried to properly care for the prisoners under you command. Someone else might not," Hogan answered.

Klink dropped his head, almost in despair. "You baffle me, Hogan. I'm your biggest enemy. But you have worked to not only save my career then, but I think you affected it other times too."

"Colonel Klink, we both want the same thing. A speedy end to this war and to bring as many people out of it safely as possible. That's what I work for," Hogan said.

"Colonel Hogan, for the first time, I can agree with you on something." Klink looked up at Hogan and slowly extended his hand.

Hogan reached his own hand out to shake the hand of his enemy.

(1) D-Day at Stalag 13. Season 3, episode 3. Klink had to avoid the blame for the invasion somehow.