Ok, I'm so sorry it took so long to get this chapter up! My best friend decided that July was a great time to get married, so I spent the last 2 months doing my duty as a maid of honor in planning her wedding with her. A special thanks to Sunstorm89 for private messaging me and making me get my butt in gear! So, the moment you've been waiting for, on with the story!!

The door to the barracks slammed open as sergeant Hans Schultz barreled in, yelling, "Raus!! Raus! Everybody up! Roll call!" The portly guard reached up and pounded on Newkirk's bunk, bellowing again, "Everybody up, up, up! Roll call! Raus, raus, schnell!"

Moans from the prisoners were the only replies the sergeant got, along with Newkirk's "Leave off Schultz!" and Le Beau's, "Just ten more minutes Schultzie!"

"Yeah," Carter grumbled, "Have a heart!"

In the midst of the complaining, Colonel Hogan appeared out of his office, shrugging into his leather jacket and quickly defending his men's complaints. "Now Schultz," he said, "We deserve the extra sleep; today's a big holiday for us flyers!"

"Oh yeah," the sergeant asked, "and what holiday is that?"

"The death of the Red Baron," the Colonel quipped without missing a beat. The men laughed loudly at Schultz's muttered, "Jolly joker," and reluctantly pulled themselves out of their not so comfortable bunks into the cold air outside.

The sun was just beginning to rise as the men from barracks two slowly got into formation. Hogan looked down the two lines at the men in his command, and knew that before long, they'd all be going home. Germany was losing, and it was only a matter of time until the camp was liberated. The men all knew how the war was going and they were in high spirits, joking among themselves and thoroughly annoying the Germans guarding them. For the last few weeks the counts had been especially short and lenient. Colonel Klink hadn't made a speech about "German Superiority" in weeks.

Schultz quickly made his count as the Kommandant descended the stairs from his office. His normal bellow was replaced by a placid, "Report, Schultz."

Over the din of the prisoners, Schultz struggled to be heard as he answered, "All present and accounted for Herr Kommandant!"

Klink didn't respond to Schultz' salute, merely flicked his hand, saying simply, "Dismissed," as he made his way back to his office.

Hogan stared after the retreating Colonel. I almost feel sorry for him, he thought, he's been on the bad end of not one, but two wars now. The prisoners, still carrying on their conversations, walked away before the sergeant even had a chance to dismiss them. Hogan remained in the yard, his gaze still resting on the closed door Klink had disappeared. He thought of the tunnels, the men they'd saved, all the good they'd done, and knew that without the "Iron Colonel" of Stalag, none of it would have been possible. I'll do what I can for him, Hogan mused, he deserves that much. His thoughts were interrupted as Kinch, Newkirk, Le Beau and Carter circled closely around him.

"Our beloved Kommandant seems a little depressed today," Hogan said with a smile, shaking off his somber mood, "I think I'll pay him a visit."
"Yeah, a visit with you always cheers him up," Kinch joked.

Hogan chuckled as he walked away from the group, throwing a comment over his shoulder, "Who wouldn't want to spend time with me?"

The men laughed as he strolled into the Kommandant's office, knowing just how much the German officer didn't want to be with the American colonel.

Klink jumped as the door to his office slammed shut, groaning inwardly as he realized that the only person who entered his office so informally was the one man he absolutely did not want to see. He looked up slowly from his paper work, hoping against hope that the face that greeted him would not be the arrogant senior POW officer.

Hogan grinned widely at the crestfallen look on the Kommandant's face, "Expecting someone else Colonel? You look disappointed."

"Go away, Hogan," Klink answered, "Don't you have anything better to do than torment me?"

"Torment you? I'm hear to see if there's anything I can do to help!" Hogan said lightheartedly, grabbing for a cigar from the humidor.

Klink slammed the lid, but not before the light fingered Colonel had snatched one. "You could help me, Colonel, by going away and leaving me alone."

"That hurts, Kommandant!" Hogan replied, a look of disappointment covering his face, "If you keep up that attitude I might just start to think you don't like me!"

Klink simply stared at him, weariness evident in his very tired face, "Is there any special reason you're here or do you just enjoy seeing me suffer?"

"Actually, Colonel, I'm here to request an extra hour of light for the men."

"And just why should you have an extra hour of light? Another crazy holiday you've made up?" Klink asked, greatly irritated.

"No," Hogan answered, smiling again, "I just knew that your good heartedness and compassion would compel you to give the poor men under your command one small piece of comfort before they all go home."

Klink winced at the mention of the camp being liberated; knowing from experience what surrender was like. He glared Hogan, who quickly pasted a sorrowful look on his face and said, "Sorry sir, bad taste."

"Colonel, for your impertinence, the camp will have lights out one hour early," the Kommandant replied, making himself feel a little bit better, "and that's final."

Hogan faked a groan, saying, "Sir, I must protest, it's against the Geneva . . . "

"You are dismissed, Hogan!" Klink yelled, waving to the door.

The American walked out quickly, making sure to complain the whole way. The door slammed shut behind him and he smiled, he'd just gotten them an extra uninterrupted hour to work.

--

"Everything set for tonight?" Hogan asked the group of men gathered around the small desk in his room.

"Yes sir," Kinch said, "we've got everything in order."

"I've got you and Carter's uniforms in the tunnel, gov'ner," Newkirk verified

"And the explosives for the train are down in the emergency tunnel," Le Beau finished.

"Good," the Colonel said, "Carter, what have you got for us?"

The young demolitions expert was more than happy to show his newest invention, and he nearly fell over himself grabbing out the pack with his explosives.

"That's it?" Hogan asked, looking at the innocent back pack before him.

"Um…yes sir. You see sir, it looks just like a German's full pack – I modeled it off the one they make Schultz lug around when he's in trouble – and right here," he pointed to what looked to be a button, "is the timer. You just twist it, one time around for each minute."

Hogan had to complement the sergeant on his remarkable work, "Carter, its great!"

"Thanks, sir!" Carter grinned, "And just you wait, it's gonna be one heck of a boom when that thing goes off!"

"Good, Carter," Hogan said, "Now, all we have to do is wait for lights out, then we move."

A door slammed out in the barracks and the group could hear Schultz's bellow of, "Lights out, everybody!"

The men smiled at the ironic timing. "Speak of the devil," Kinch said.

Colonel Hogan jumped up from his chair and made his way towards the door, "Can't leave old Schultz waiting now can we?"

The men followed the Colonel out into the main room. Schultz spotted them and pleaded to Hogan over the loud complaints of the other prisoners, "Please Colonel Hogan, the Kommandant said all lights are to be out one hour earlier tonight!"

"I know Schultz, now, you just go back to your post and I'll make sure the lights are out just as soon as you leave."

The guard looked skeptical, but decided not to argue. "Alright," he said, his hands reaching for his misplaced rifle, "You promise they will be out?"

"Yes, Schultz, I promise," the Colonel answered.

The sergeant started towards the door, turning around when he realized he still hadn't found his rifle. "Ah, Colonel Hogan, did you happen to see my . . ." He stopped as Le Beau handed him the weapon, "Thank you, cockroach," he said, nodding his head to the small Frenchman, then he turned and walked out the door, slamming it behind him.

There was a flurry of activity as the men got their gear together. Kinch opened the tunnel entrance, and they filed down, Colonel Hogan turning the lights off behind them.

In the tunnel the activity didn't cease. Hogan and Carter quickly changed into their uniforms while Kinch, Le Beau and Newkirk got in their usual black sabotage attire. They gathered at the bottom of the emergency tunnel ladder, all ready to begin their final mission.

Hogan looked at the men around him, none of them doubting the plan he had come up with. They were all ready to give their lives, if necessary, to destroy the threat to London. If anyone can pull this off, he thought, it'll be them.

"Men," the Colonel said, needing to tell them just how he felt, "It's been an honor to serve with you. I couldn't have asked for a better crew. And I want you to know, that no matter how tonight turns out, that I couldn't be more proud of all of you, and all that we've accomplished."

He reached out to shake their hands, but Newkirk interrupted him, "Sir, you know I don't care much for officers," the corporal chuckled at the knowing smile on Hogan's face, then went on, "Well, I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we never could have done what we did if it hadn't been for you. So, I know you don't get many of these, but, here goes." Altogether, the men snapped to attention and smartly saluted their commanding officer.

Hogan had to blink back the moisture in his eyes as he returned their salute. "Thanks, men," he said, and they all knew just how much was in those words. Then, to break the tension, he smiled as he said, "Now, I believe we have a rocket to blow up."

Now I know it's been forever, but I promise I'll have another chapter up by next Sunday. If it isn't up by then, please, feel free to private message me like crazy until I put it up!

Note: Manfred von Richthofen, the "Red Baron," was shot down on April 21, 1918. He was the most famous flying ace of WWI.