He shouldn't have been surprised. After all, if this was any other mission, this would be considered situation normal. However, Colonel Hogan couldn't help but be surprised that everything was going according to plan. They had stopped at several checkpoints and so far, had managed to get through every one without so much as a second glance. Of course, it helped that Major Hochstetter had come along. Hogan nearly laughed as that thought passed through his mind. He never thought he'd be grateful for the ornery Gestapo man. But it was true. As soon as he flashed his papers and was identified as Gestapo, no one wanted to detain him.
"We're not going to drive all the way to Berlin? Are we?" Newkirk asked.
"You better hope so!" Hogan growled.
"Why's that?"
"Well, we either drive, or we take the train." Hogan shivered at the thought. At the moment, Hogan and Newkirk were relatively safe. They were alone in the cab of the truck and anyone who might recognize them were either behind them or in the car in front of them. But if they took a train, they'd be in tight quarters with the rest of the party. Lucky for them, the train station in Düsseldorf was still out of commission.
"Colonel I thought of something. Hochstetter wanted to take these chaps to every prison camp along the way. You still think he plans on doing it."
"I doubt it. After the reception they received at Stalag 13, they'll probably want to get Anderson and his men on the radio first- just in case they aren't so kindly treated in another camp."
"I suppose you're right guv'nor."
"I better be," Hogan muttered. "Aw hell." The car in front of them was slowing down for yet another checkpoint. Hogan watched as a soldier marched up to the window and started speaking to the driver. From the way he stepped back a moment later, Hogan was sure he'd just been threatened by Hochstetter. However, he wasn't thoroughly intimidated, for a moment later, he was collecting papers from the car. The checkpoint guard carefully studied their papers and then marched to the truck. Hochstetter jumped out and followed.
Newkirk shot Hogan a nervous glance. Hogan just nodded and winked, trying to cast the illusion that he had everything under control. The truth was something entirely different. He wanted to throw up as the guard and Hochstetter approached. He ducked his head down and tried to look calm when they came to his door.
"Out of the truck and show me your papers," the guard demanded.
Hogan was about to demand an explanation but caught himself before he opened his mouth. His current disguise was that of a lowly corporal. He was in no position to make demands. Keeping his head down and slightly away from Hochstetter, Hogan jumped out of the cab, followed by Newkirk, who was also trying to act inconspicuous. They both handed over their papers, and the guard reviewed them intently. He then turned to the Gestapo major.
"Can you vouch for these men Herr Major?"
"BAH!" Hochstetter growled. "We are in a hurry! We do not have time for this!"
"I'm sorry Herr Major, but it was reported that some prisoners from Stalag 18 stole a truck much like this one and we have to make sure they didn't sneak behind you. Are you sure-"
"You imbecile, there is only one truck here and it is the one that had been behind us the whole time!"
"And these men, they are the ones you left camp with."
"Of course!"
"And their names, Herr Major?" Hogan shot his gaze upwards. He hated thorough and suspicious Krauts.
"How should I know?! They are Klink's men! I have had enough of this foolishness! Back into the truck!" Hogan fought the urge to fly back into the cab as Hochstetter ordered. Instead, he very calmly gave a salute and turned. Hochstetter paid him no mind as he turned back to the checkpoint guard. "I admire your thoroughness, but you should save it for others- not the Gestapo! Now, we will go to the back of the truck to make sure we have all our prisoners. No more, no less."
Hogan climbed back into the cab with Newkirk and listened as Hochstetter shouted at the prisoners behind them. A few moments later, Hochstetter was marching back to his car and the guard made his way back to his outpost. The car ahead pulled forward and Hogan let out a sigh of relief as he followed.
"Thank 'eaven for Hochstetter," Newkirk muttered. Hogan just grunted in reply. He didn't want to admit the fact that Hochstetter's anger and impatience had probably saved their lives. Especially since the name on his papers read Corporal Hoganmuffer- that would not have gone over well if Hochstetter had read that.
The rest of their trip was thankfully uneventful. Another hour or so passed before they finally reached the outskirts of Berlin. Soon they were in the heart of the city- the heart of the lion's den.
Hogan shook his head. He'd been here plenty of times. This time would be no different. His plan would work, they always did… except for recently that is…
"There's the radio station up ahead Colonel," Newkirk said, pointing at the darkened city street to a large building up ahead. Sure enough, Hochstetter's car pulled up and stopped. Hogan manoeuvred the truck behind it and shut it off.
"Show time. Remember, keep your head down and your mouth shut."
"Right. Just one question: how are you planning on blowing this place up?!"
"I don't know, I'm making this up as I go. Come on." And with that, Hogan slid out of the cab and marched towards the back of the truck, Newkirk in tow. The other two guards in the back jumped out and together, the four of the herded the prisoners forward.
"You," Hochstetter said, pointing to Newkirk as he came up to the group. Newkirk snapped to attention. "Stay with the truck out here."
"Jawohl Major!" Newkirk said gruffly, tugging his helmet lower. Hochstetter turned on his heel and marched into the building, flanked by Kunze and his guards.
The light went on in Hogan's head. Ideas swirled around and quickly built themselves into a plan. He smiled, mentally thanking Hochstetter- again! If Hochstetter kept this up, Hogan would have a hard time hating him as much as he did. "Newkirk," Hogan whispered as the other guards led the prisoners forward, "keep an eye out for Kunze. If he comes out, follow him. Here-" Hogan handed Newkirk two of his explosives- "take these. Got a gun?"
Newkirk nodded. "We're offing him then?"
"We have to. Listen, I don't know how this is going to play out, but I doubt Kunze is going to come back with us. He probably has a lab here in Berlin. I want you to follow him to it and blow it sky high. If you have to stay behind to do it that's fine- contact the underground and get back to Stalag 13 as soon as possible."
"You sure about this Colonel?" Newkirk asked nervously. This plan seemed more half-cocked than usual.
"No," Hogan said flatly. The frown that creased the Englishman's face prompted Hogan to wink and smile reassuringly. "Don't worry, it'll be all right." He glanced at the building. "I have to go. Good luck."
"Same to you guv."
Hogan winked and dashed away to catch up to his group before they missed him.
Anderson took a deep breath and followed his escorts into the radio station. He was crazy. Absolutely crazy.
Sabotage wasn't his job- he was a bomber pilot for Pete Sakes!
A bomber pilot and an officer, he reminded himself. He wasn't some eighteen year old private. He could handle this. Sure he could. What was one little radio station?
Anderson was about to contradict himself again when he heard the sounds of heavy footsteps falling behind him. He turned and watched a guard quickly catch up to the group. Anderson shook his head and started to argue with himself again when he suddenly did a double-take. That wasn't a guard! That was Hogan!
Anderson had to stop himself from saying it aloud. Instead, he caught Hogan's eye and raised an eyebrow. The colonel allowed himself to wink before regaining the stern expression of a proper German guard.
Relief washed over Anderson. Good. He didn't have to be the crazy fool that pulled this off. But that didn't mean he could relax.
Ripping his attention away from Hogan so as not to draw suspicion to either one of them, Anderson instead focused on his German escorts. Kunze and Hochstetter were leading the group. Hochstetter stomped through the halls, shooting intimidating glances at everyone they happened to pass. As for Kunze, he walked about as if he owned the place.
"Stop. This is it," Kunze announced. He flung open a door at the end of the hall. "This is the recording room. Berlin Betty's program will start in five minutes. After you, Major." Kunze gestured to the open doorway and stepped aside for the Gestapo man to enter.
"I have better things to do than listen to these prisoners speak on the radio," Hochstetter said flatly.
Kunze arched an eyebrow. "Then there will be no one to watch them but your guards as I have important matters to attend to as well." The two men stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Finally Hochstetter looked away. Kunze smirked in triumph. "I will check in on you before I leave, Herr Major. Right now, I need to ensure our messages are still being sent." Then, clicking his heels, Kunze nodded and headed away.
Anderson watched him go and shot a glance towards Hogan. Hogan also followed Kunze's progress, but remained still. Anderson could see the gears in his head turning. He was almost about to follow when Hochstetter's voice pierced the air.
"What are you standing there for?!" Both Anderson and Hogan nearly jumped a mile and turned to face Hochstetter who was boiling red with anger. Hogan snapped a quick salute, though Anderson noticed he kept his head down. Then he shoved the Captain, none too lightly, into the room. Hochstetter followed, muttering something about Klink and his stupidity being contagious.
Anderson surveyed the room he now found himself in. The room was small and plain- the only picture on the wall being a portrait of Hitler. On one side of the room, there was a large glass window that showed another room full of both modern and somewhat antiquated equipment. Two men with headphones sat behind the controls, operating the system. In the center, there stood a lone microphone that was surrounded by a dozen folding chairs, where his men now sat. Hochstetter and his guards, including Hogan, surrounded them. Hogan stood closest to the door and kept a steady eye on Hochstetter. Anytime the Major would look over, Hogan quickly averted his gaze. Anderson scrunched his nose. It didn't seem like to best way to avoid suspicion, but it wasn't as if he could warn the colonel.
"Have a seat, Captain," Hochstetter said, gesturing to an empty chair. "There is no need to be nervous. Just repeat everything that you told Doctor Kunze and everything will be fine." There was an underlying threat hidden in his tone that caused Anderson to shiver. Pushing his unease aside, he chose a chair closest to the door and sat down.
A moment later, a very voluptuous blond entered the room. Anderson could only assume that it was Berlin Betty herself. Every man in the room examined her with their eyes. She was everything they had imagined her to be when they heard her seductive voice on the radio. But there was a coldness in her eyes that negated her physical beauty.
"Good evening gentlemen," the blonde greeted. "My name is Maria Berger, but I am sure you know me as Berlin Betty.
"Herr Doctor Kunze has already explained to me what you are doing here and I am very excited. Before we go on the air, let me just say it was an intelligent decision to surrender to the Third Reich and for bringing your plane down intact. It has been very useful to our Luftwaffe researchers." That made Anderson wince. She was rubbing salt into his wounds and seemed to know it. "I hope you will be able to convince the rest of your men to follow your shining examples." Anderson tried to hide a scowl as he saw the smug expression on her face.
"Now," she continued as a small red light began to flash, "we'll be going on the air in a moment. Doctor Kunze has informed me that you've already been told what to say. Don't be nervous. Just give your honest account of what happened and why you did it." She narrowed her eyes as she studied the Americans sitting before her. "I think we shall start with you Captain Anderson."
Anderson shot Hogan a quick look, gazed down at his watch and then back at Hogan. Hogan caught his eye and scowled, nodding towards Hochstetter. Anderson got the hint. He couldn't afford to draw anymore attention to Hogan than was necessary, especially with Hochstetter in the room. Though Hogan was keeping his face down, if Hochstetter paid too much attention then they'd all find themselves in front of a firing squad.
Anderson scowled. He had no idea what the plan was. How were they going to blow this place up with Hochstetter in the same room, watching their every move. One of them had to sneak out somehow, but at the moment, that didn't seem at all possible.
Suddenly, music filled the room and the men on the other side of the glass nodded at 'Betty'. Straightening her suit, Betty positioned herself in front of the microphone and waited for the music to end. "Good evening Allies," she said in a sultry voice. "This is Berlin Betty coming to you from the heart of Germany. Tonight, we have a special treat for you. We have several airmen from the 410th bomber division with us tonight and they have a special message for you. These brave, intelligent men recently landed their plane in Germany and turned themselves over to the Third Reich.
"And now, without further ado, I present to you Captain Anderson, the pilot of the B-17 bomber crew." She motioned for Anderson, who stood from his chair, but made no attempt to move closer. "Captain, would you care to tell your story, and explain what made you realize the obvious might of the Third Reich."
Anderson cleared his throat and slowly stepped forward. He couldn't do this. He was going to be sick. He was… wait a minute.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Anderson heaved. He stopped and hunched over and heaved heavily, trying to stem back the tide. Then, suddenly, he covered his mouth and darted towards the door.
"Was ist das!" Hochstetter yelled as Anderson dodged out the door. "Get back here! After him!"
"I will go Herr Major!" Hogan said quickly with a salute and ran after the fleeing captain.