August 16
London, England's Headquarters – 2315 Hours

In these past twenty-four hours, with no sleep, Carter and I have been to a secret meeting with some generals and those in charge here, met Hansel and Gretel and have developed a plan on how to nab them as spies and get out of here alive and back to Stalag 13. After talking with the duo, whose child is mysteriously missing, I have developed a suspicion of them and have voiced my concerns to a General Alburtis beforehand (this also happens to be the General who ordered my transfer from medical unit to spying ring). He shares my beliefs (after I argued with him, to his, and the others', great displeasure) in these two and has encouraged me, after seeing him only an hour previously, that I turn them into justice. It also helps that I knew General Alburtis for a short period of time as the transfer from London to Paris occurred. So, you can say that I have a connection in a high place.

It was about 1700 hours when Carter and I arrived, safe and sound, to Headquarters in London. All through the trip to Headquarters in London, I still noticed the repairs being made to the city. When Carter and I arrived, I knew where to go: to find General Alburtis because I knew that he'll side with me on this. When acquiring information on where he was, I was warned, by a secretary (the General's aide not answering me earlier), that he was in a top secret meeting with other generals. Pleased for this information (but also displeased that it was given to me so easily), I dragged a trembling Carter as I searched for the conference room, someplace I've been in once, but remember well where it was.

It was a surprise then, to those three generals planning strategies and tactics inside the conference room in the center of Headquarters, that I arrived whole and unhurt with another comrade in tow. Well, I put them in their place, so to speak, with my temper. Other than Alburtis, there were Generals Clark and Milton, the latter two I never knew very well, but have had the honor (if you want to call it that) to meet them once before I left England for France.

All three generals were surprised as a colonel and her trusty companion of a sergeant barged in, with their best dress uniforms on (but weary from travel), and interrupted a meeting that we were warned about. But this spy is much more important, not only because they both can drip secrets to the Krauts, but they can foil the plans that these generals have been planning possibly, and they all should figure that out when I explain it.

Carter was behind me the whole time as he followed me through Headquarters like a puppy. I walked faster than I ever have in my life, for this was imperative that these generals know about this (General Alburtis works with the Allies' spy network, so I was sure he needed to know). Carter was, however, doubtful that we should break up a general's meeting. As we reached the conference room, after the security crew at the door cleared us, Carter stopped me. "Mad'm, are you sure that we can do this?" he asked me. "I mean, I can understand if you can bother Colonel Hogan, but this a generals' meeting. We could be court –"

"Carter," I said through clenched teeth as I was holding the door knob, "I don't care if they're planning the last strategy of the war and that we're going to win with this on a guarantee. This is much more essential and if they are not informed, then their plans will be in vain." And with that, I opened the door.

All three generals, scared that this was some assassination attempt or a takeover, as is usually feared in meetings like this, stood up quickly, but relaxed and grew angry as soon as they saw me and Carter, who was half-hiding behind the door and half-curious to see what was going on (or what will go on).

I faced them all, and didn't even flinch when General Clark started his ranting. "Colonel, this is a private gathering. Surely you were told about this by our aides? Surely security had said something before you came through?"

"I was well informed, Sir," I said, always emphasizing Sir, "and what I am about to say is much more vital. If you allow me to explain and execute whatever arrangements I have, then I can get back to Germany with Sergeant Carter here, and –"

"Get back to Germany? What is it for?" General Milton said with confusion and anger in his voice. "Colonel, your place is obviously here in London. I can see that you're a medical officer and Sergeant…Carter is an airman. Surely, you both have no place in Germany."

Carter, smiling at this certain attention, stopped hiding behind that door and stood behind me. But I wasn't fooled. "General, Sir," I replied with my temper rising, "I know our place is where we land. We have no control over where we are as we are captured –"

"Wait, wait," General Alburtis spoke for the first time, this time calmer than his stilled but irritated demeanor. "Gentlemen, be seated. Colonel, Sergeant, take a seat." As I motioned for Carter to sit down in the empty seats in front of the generals, General Alburtis continued. "Colonel, if your assignment is in Germany, then why are you here? And why would you interject a meeting like this?"

Questions, questions and too many of them to answer! I knew these men, for such a short time, and was suddenly panicking. I childishly thought about Rob and the possibility that they would order me to stay here and break Klink's no-escape record. But can I trust them not to make me stay here? I knew where my assignment was until the end of the war, even on this voluntary basis – Stalag 13 – but at the same time, if I told them everything, then we can save this operation. I'll have to make this personal risk. "General, we have come here from Stalag 13 –"

"Colonel!" General Milton exclaimed. "Are you saying that you're a prisoner of war and that you've escape to bother us?"

"No, not entirely, Sir," I said. "This is a mission of utmost magnitude and we both have come here to make you aware of its contents and of what events might go on. We both have a trying journey coming here and have been trailed by the Gestapo most of the way and –"

"But surely they didn't follow you here," a worried General Clark said.

I sighed. I was becoming tired of the constant interruptions. When I was sure that my next answers were going to be complete, I continued. "With all due respect, General Clark, I do not believe that they followed us here. The only people who know we're here is our party at Stalag 13, possibly some Underground workers, the crew of The Black Pearl and most likely the two suspected spies Sergeant Carter and I are in search of."

General Alburtis was suddenly curious. He folded his arms, much like Rob does when he's interested in a theory or an event that went into a strange direction, and stared at me. After what seemed to be a few minutes, the General said, "So, this is a mission to uplift a spy to come out, one that is in this area?"

"Yes, Sir," I said with much more respect (somebody was getting somewhere and not interrupting me, finally!). "It isn't one that we're looking into. It's two who also have a child. I have no idea if the child is part of their plots or even how old he or she is. Their codenames, by the way, are Hansel and Gretel. We received information about them from a trusted Underground agent who works in Germany and has radioed the pair numerous times. He has mentioned that they never use the usual code that is required of all agents, but regular speech."

I paused. I only continued after General Alburtis, when his silent pleas for the name of our agent, did not hear any name come out of my mouth. "Our source said that they are strangely described as dependable agents who happened to escape from Germany at the start of the war and are suddenly on this side. About a week ago, we received a message, from a frequency wave 430, about our bombers' mission to the ammo dump. They explained that it was a failure, of which it was true because of the weather, and that we at Stalag 13 needed to achieve the goal of the mission. They also mentioned a victim that needed to be…picked up at Monowitz, another part of the Auschwitz camp."

There was another silence. I was guessing that all three generals knew who I was talking about and disbelieved me regarding them. I continued anyhow, addressing all three of them. "The fact of the matter is, they are still risking these operations against Germany and Japan, spies or not. All I wanted to find out is if they are or not. But if they aren't, then why are they addressing us by our full names using our frequency ranges? Why then would they not use our code or the codenames? Surely, they have the books and the means to obtain them, and if not, why are they considered to be the top spies here?"

My questions startled General Milton. Not only that, I dared to accuse our top agents for doubles. He stood up and ranted. "Colonel, are you out of your mind, or has that prison camp altered your way of thinking?"

I snapped back. I knew that I shouldn't and show respect those higher in rank than I am, but I had no tolerance for this stupidity that day. "General, when was the last time someone actually checked on who was on our side and who happened to be an agent for Germany? Do you have any idea about –?"

"I've had enough of this nonsense, Colonel Michalovich!" General Alburtis unexpectedly said, amazing me that he remembered who I was. "You are posing a high accusation to General Milton. You should also know by now where your place should be."

"My place?" I replied back, this time chillingly, with a cold laugh to boot. "General, you never knew where my place was. All you did was transfer me into danger only two lonely years ago –"

"Colonel, I'm warning you…" General Milton interrupted.

"– and all you did afterward," I went on without caring and my temper rose with every word, "was sit there, your back safely in that chair and desk, and watch as I almost killed myself. I endured it. I saw myself in hell and back. I saw myself reunited with someone I love the most and heard another being shot by the Gestapo. I have had to save the operation we at Stalag 13 have continued, despite the price on my head, countless times and sacrificed myself for this cause. I thought of everything to keep this safe, Sir, and when I theorize that someone is not what they seem to be, and I want to investigate it, I expect full cooperation and not some silly statement indirectly saying how womanly I am. I have a heart of a man when I need it! I need not to be told where my damned place is!"

Carter could only gape in amazement. I had not only argued and disagreed with generals, but also I bothered to use my temper against them to get my way.

Still breathing deeply and trying to suck in air, I heard the verdict from General Clark. "Colonel, you and Sergeant Carter here are dismissed. We do not need this disrespect or this outburst either. General Alburtis is right: you should know where your place is."

Saluting them and standing up (how I still hated to do that), I encouraged Carter to do the same and leave. But I still had the last word, as I usually do and it was just an idea to get them to come to their senses. As I was leaving, I said over my shoulder, with Carter in front of me listening, "I value the time here, Sirs, and that you listened to what I needed to say, even if it wasn't to your liking. I just anticipate that these plans that you are thinking of executing are to go as scheduled. I surely hope also that nobody has them in their grabby hands."

With the corner of my eye, I saw that General Milton was able to protest this breech of protocol (that, and I had gone too far anyway), but General Alburtis stopped him. General Clark was also to do the same, but again, he too was stopped by Alburtis. I smiled sweetly to myself and knew that I had won this argument.

As soon as I turned the corner and stepped out of the conference room, General Alburtis called us in again. "Colonel, wait!" he said. I grabbed Carter, who was in front of me, and swiveled him in the opposite direction and directed him back to the conference room. As soon as we entered, General Alburtis spoke again. "Colonel, after closely going over what you have said and reviewing the evidence you presented to us, we have decided that you can scrutinize the activities of these spies." The other two generals were able to protest again, but were silenced by Alburtis. "Colonel, your last statement has gotten me to think about what would have happened if you didn't look into our agents and made sure that they are what they appear to be. I have heard that you have a keen sense of who everybody is. When it comes, you know what it can be and what can be done to prevent it. We therefore give you permission to go ahead with your plans."

Again, I smiled. Bingo, I thought as I saluted and said, "Thank you, Sir. You won't be displeased with this investigation and you will be appreciative of this."

"We should hope so," General Clark said. General Milton faced at me with an irritated stare and switched his attention back to his papers on the table.

With that, we were dismissed once more. I turned to leave the conference room, but as soon as I left the room, I noticed that Carter was missing. Sighing, I went back through the open door and saw that Carter was standing there, still and saluting the Generals. Disgusted, I grabbed Carter and bid the Generals farewell as I dragged Carter down the hallway, shutting the conference room door behind me. We have more work to do, and much little time to do it.