A/N: Thank you for bearing with me thus far.

Instead of rapping his knuckles on the door to Klink's office, Hogan simply opened it and walked in. "Knock, knock."

"Who's there?" Klink replied automatically, not looking up from his desk.

"Colonel."

"Colonel who?" Klink's head snapped up immediately just in time to see Hogan's wide grin.

"Colonel-"

"Hogan!" Klink shouted, then groaned to himself. "What do you want?" he asked irritably.

"Actually, sir, it's not about what I want, but what the men want." He walked over and blatantly opened the cigar box.

Klink slammed it shut. "And just what do they want?"

"Well, they'd like some butter to go with the white bread you're finally handing out."

Klink sneered sarcastically. "Would they like some cloth napkins, as well?"

Hogan shrugged. "Well, if you have any lying around…"

"Hogan! You spoil your men! First bread, now butter! I have half a mind to take away it all!"

"I'm sorry, sir," Hogan said innocently. "We really appreciate your generosity. We just figured it wouldn't hurt to ask for a little extra to celebrate with."

"Celebrate? What's the celebration?"

"Oh, nothing big," Hogan waved him off. "Just that rumor has it that Hammelburg Road's been mined. We figure a car will have to cross it today or tomorrow, and thought that we could have some butter with our bread while we enjoy the fireworks."

"The road? Mined?" Klink stood up, spooked. "Where did you hear that?"

"Oh, you know, guards go on furlough, guards hear rumors in the town, guards come back and tell their buddies…" He shrugged. "It's about the only excitement we get around here."

"General Burkhalter is coming here!" Klink exclaimed, wringing his hands nervously. "What am I going to do if he gets hit by a mine?"

"Well, maybe you can give us some garlic salt with that butter."

Klink shook a fierce finger at him. "Hogan! That isn't funny. The general's due here today! How is it going to get cleared of mines?"

"Don't look at me."

Klink looked at Hogan. He clasped his hands behind his back. "Hogan, I want you to prepare your men for a roadside detail."

Hogan's eyes widened. "What? No way! I'm not going to let my men be mine-bait!"

"Who said anything about landmines? Your men are simply going to clean up trash on Hammelburg Road. If they happen to find anything metallic, then they shall simply dispose of it with the rest of the litter."

Hogan crossed his arms. "Fine. But I'm going to keep the number small- I don't like risking my men in a sanitation cleanup."

Klink waved him off as he sat back down. "Have them report to Schultz immediately. Dismissed."

With a smirk and a sloppy salute, Hogan left.

Outside, he met Kirk and Grayson in the yard. He looked around, analyzing everyone.

"You sure your weapon will be big enough to be convincing?" he confirmed.

"Absolutely," Kirk stated.

"Okay. The roadside detail is good to go." He eyed Kirk. "You don't mind losing something as secret as this?"

"That's for me to worry about." Kirk gave him a quick, reassuring smile. "Better that no one have it if we can't."

"Right." Hogan took a deep breath, getting back to business. "You two on the cleanup with me. LeBeau!" Hogan moved off to where LeBeau had gathered some other prisoners to attend the detail. It was smaller than most their operations, and LeBeau was the only one of his core group tagging along. It was time to move; the clock was ticking.

"Room service!"

Carter and Newkirk barged into Klink's office waving dusters, a broom, and other cleaning supplies. The roadside detail had left the camp, but that wasn't the only place that needed cleaning out today.

"Sorry about the mess, Kommandant, but we'll get it right 'n' tidied up for ya," Newkirk rambled. He vigorously dusted the WWI helmet on the desk before attending the desk itself – scattering all of Klink's papers in the process.

"You imbeciles!" Klink cried. "Can't you see I'm working?"

"So are we," Carter said.

"Busy day," Newkirk added.

Klink made a strained little sound before he started chasing after Newkirk's duster of destruction. He violently straightened his mess of papers as Carter called out.

"Hey Newkirk? I'm going to get the wax, now."

"Right-o."

"Wax? What wax?" Klink chased Carter out into Hilda's front office, where even more cleaning supplies waited. Hilda silently got up and closed the door as the two men squawked on.

"You know, the wax for the hardwood floors! They have to be waxed at least once a year," Carter explained, hefting a bottle of liquid up. "You want them all polished for when the general arrives, don't you?"

"I don't care about wax or polish, I-!" With his arms flailing about, Carter pretended to be hit and spilled half the bottle on the floor. Klink immediately slipped and landed hard on his back, both legs flying up into the air.

"Geez, commandant, I'm so sorry!" Carter apologized to the warbling colonel. He sloshed more 'wax' all over the floor as he tried to help Klink to his feet, only for the colonel to slip and fall again.

"Carter!"

...

As soon as Hilda had closed the door, Newkirk got to work.

He crouched in front of the safe and rubbed his hands together. Grayson had watched Klink from the window and confirmed that their little weapon was inside. Newkirk started spinning the dial.

"Alright, my princess," he whispered. "Let's 'ave a look at your jewels."

In no time it popped open. He glanced over his shoulder, still hearing the sounds of the distraction outside. Good.

Peering inside, it didn't take long to find what he was looking for. A little black object, smaller than the tricorder, rested on the top shelf. Two fused buttons gleamed on top of it, and with a small thrill of nervousness Newkirk pocketed it. This weapon could detonate? This weapon could win the war?

He shut the safe and tried not to jostle where the weapon resided. He did not want it to go off accidentally.

Newkirk grasped his duster right as the door opened again for Carter helping a slipping, sliding Klink make it to his desk. Carter was apologizing profusely with every step, though was responsible for making Klink stumble every other foot.

"How'd the waxing go, Carter?" Newkirk interrupted the flustered commandant.

Klink gripped his desk as soon as he was close enough. "Both of you! Out!"

"But sir, don't want your office cleaned?"

"OUT!" Klink yelled.

Shrugging, Newkirk and Carter obliged. Orders were orders.

"Watch out for the puddle," Carter mentioned when they were out.

"Thanks." Newkirk winked at Hilda as they passed. "Thanks for getting the door, luv."

"Tell Hogan 'thank you' for the nylons," she blushed.

"Will do."

They dragged the cleaning supplies outside and started hauling them back. "You got the doohickey?" Carter whispered.

"Yeah, an' it's bloody scaring me. Don't want to hit the buttons and make it go off."

"Well, there's normally a safety on these kind of things," Carter tried to reassure him.

Newkirk gulped. "I didn't see one 'ere, mate. Let's get to this to the tunnel as quickly as possible."

McCoy paced up and down the tunnel. He was in his black undershirt with his blue uniform balled up in his hands. Kinch was also wearing all black for their part of the plan. It didn't stop his restlessness. He jumped when he heard a gun click, but it was just Kinch loading a clip in his pistol. The man looked up and smiled at him. "You nervous?"

"A little," he confessed. "I still feel like I hardly know what's going on."

"Well, rest assured, the colonel's plans always work. I just hope your Captain Kirk can get you home the rest of the way."

McCoy chuckled. "I know Kirk's plans always work- I just hope your Colonel Hogan can get us to the correct spot."

They shared a smile.

The moment was interrupted by a commotion from the bunk's entrance. Newkirk dropped down into the tunnel and raced towards them. That must mean Carter was watching the door upstairs. So far everything was going to plan.

"You got the weapon?" Kinch asked.

Newkirk nodded and gingerly reached into his pocket. He pulled out the phaser almost too delicately.

McCoy walked over and took it from him. He tucked it on his belt under his shirt. Newkirk watched him. "That a safe spot, mate?"

"Normally, he answered. "It's not dangerous if you know how to use it."

"Things can still be dangerous even when you know exactly what you're doing," Kinch pointed out, lifting his pistol.

McCoy swallowed and nodded. "Wise words."

Kinch looked at his watch. "Okay, it's about shift change. Let's go!"

"Later, mate," Newkirk called after them.

Kinch led the way to the furthest spot in the tunnel. It ended in a ladder leading up to a piece of wood. McCoy tied his shirt around his waist as Kinch climbed up and eased the piece of wood open. He watched something outside for several minutes, occasionally ducking down, before finally opening it further and motioning McCoy up.

They crept out of the… tree stump?... and crouched low in the woods. The camp seemed very close, and McCoy's senses jumped to full alertness as he looked for any guards. Glancing at Kinch, he felt conspicuous even with the bright blue only around his waist. Unfortunately, there was no safe way to leave the contamination behind. He wondered what Kirk and Spock had done with their uniforms.

"Now," Kinch whispered, and they darted off farther in the woods. McCoy knew why they were being extra careful. Daylight operations were always riskier.

They moved as quickly as they could through the trees, pausing occasionally to listen for any sounds of patrols. They seemed to be making good time; if they kept this pace they should beat Hogan and Kirk to the meeting point by virtue of off-road travel.

McCoy took his shirt from his waist, tied the sleeves around the back of his neck, and stuffed the body down the front of his undershirt. He couldn't take the possibility of the bold color being spotted among the greenery anymore. His hand kept straying to his belt, as well, to ensure that the phaser was still there. His other hand steadied the tricorder.

As they made their way down a dip, Kinch slowed. McCoy could glimpse a road off through the trees. They belly-crawled as close to it as they dared before finally hunkering down to wait. The road rose up a hill to their right before disappearing down the other way over the crest.

McCoy wiggled close and whispered to Kinch. "As soon as Kirk and Sp-Grayson come over the ridge, take off. This sucker's going to make one helluva boom."

Kinch nodded. He checked his pistol, then looked at McCoy. "We're never going to know what it and the tricorder are about, are we?" he said softly.

McCoy closed his eyes and shook his head. "I'm afraid not. It's too dangerous."

The sergeant simply nodded again. "Nor how you got here, or how you're leaving?"

The doctor gave a rueful smile. "Classified."

"Don't worry," Kinch said. "I understand."

An engine sounded in the distance. Both men immediately flattened themselves. Peering through the bushes, they watched as car drove into view, heading towards the hill.

Kinch swore under his breath, eyes wide. "That's General Burkhalter's car."

"Now?" McCoy exclaimed. "I thought he wasn't due until-"

"C'mon!" Kinch was already surging up as the car passed them. "They're still on the other side of the hill!"

McCoy scrambled to his feet and pelted after him.

"Hey, Schultz," Hogan called to the portly man. "Give us a break, will ya? Look how far the men have come without having died yet."

Schultz winced and stamped his foot. "Please don't talk like that, Col. Hogan, you might set off a landmine!"

"I'm not trying to jinx us, Schultzie," Hogan commented. "Just saying this hill's a good a place as any for a late lunch. You remember lunch, right Schultz? Come on…"

"Colonel Hogan," Schultz pleaded. "I just want to get back to camp. The sooner we finish, the sooner we go to where there are no landmines. What if I sit on one while I eat?"

"You're right, that might be a problem," Hogan admitted. "Here, why don't we rest near the top, and I'll send a couple men to scout the other side of the hill, to make sure no landmines will flatten it? That sound fair?"

He was hardly finishing his sentence, and ready to motion Kirk and Grayson over, when LeBeau came running down towards him. "Colonel! Colonel!" he panted.

"What, LeBeau?"

"General Burkhalter's car is here!" he gasped.

"What?"

Hogan started jogging the remaining distance to the top of the hill. Burkhalter wasn't due till this evening, unless… unless he hadn't been all the way in Berlin when Klink called. He hurried upwards faster. Waving, LeBeau made sure the other prisoners followed. The two other guards jogged along the edges with him with their spry dogs. Schultz groaned against the incline, barely bringing up the rear.

Kirk was suddenly next to him as he looked down the far side of the hill, Grayson trailing behind him. Sure enough, the flags on the staff car gave away its very familiar occupant. They couldn't sell a stretch of road as mined when a car had already driven over it. "We need a plan B?" he whispered to Hogan.

Hogan's eyes flicked to the woods on their left. "Kinch and McCoy had to have seen this," he murmured. He thought quickly.

"LeBeau, make sure all the prisoners are up here, starting down this side of the ridge. Kirk, Grayson, take the far rear. We'll see if we can reverse the scenario."

"Logical," Grayson commented.

Kirk started to move away, but stopped long enough to put a hand on Hogan's shoulder. He looked him in the eye. "Whatever happens, thank you for this."

"A duty and a pleasure," Hogan replied, though half-distracted. "Go."

The staff car had slowed down upon seeing all the people standing in the road. A gasping, wheezing Schultz finally made it to Hogan's position, only to moan as Hogan started walking down towards the car. Hustling downhill, Schultz made a little better time in keeping up.

"General Burkhalter, what a surprise to see you!" Hogan flashed a smile at the backseat.

The man did not look amused. "Schultz!" he addressed past him. "Why are these prisoners outside of camp?"

Schultz snapped to a salute. "Herr General, roadside cleanup! Landmine detail!"

"Landmines?" Burkhalter barked. "What landmines?"

"Rumors of landmines along this road, General," Hogan supplied smoothly. "Klink made us guinea pigs."

"I haven't heard about any landmines," Burkhalter harrumphed. "If this car has made it this far on this road, then are no landmines!"

Hogan smiled past his clenching gut. "Excellent news, sir. It means we can call it a day early, once we finish up. Isn't that right, Schultz?"

"Right!" Schultz crowed. He took out a handkerchief and mopped his sweating brow.

Burkhalter sneered at the prisoners and dogs milling in front of the car. "Sergeant, why don't you tell these men to move? If they've made it to this same point with no mines, then the road is cleared in both directions!"

"Just a minute, sir," Hogan pressed. "We're technically just finishing up the other side of the hill. Once the last of my men cross over, then we'll know we're good to go-"

"I don't care about your men, Hogan, now let me through!"

Hogan closed his eyes.

McCoy and Kinch watched as everyone crowded around the top of the hill. When LeBeau started running around getting people firmly on the other side, the men understood. Kinch patted McCoy's back as they saw Kirk and Grayson break off surreptitiously back down the first side.

"Good luck," he said.

"Thanks," McCoy smiled. He stood and took off parallel in the woods towards the bottom of the hill. Kinch watched them get closer together, then started slinking back the way they'd come. Time to get out before the boom.

McCoy jogged out of the woods towards Kirk and Spock, glancing rapidly towards the crest that held the main commotion. He pulled out the phaser. "So how does this next part work, Jim?"

"I don't know," Kirk replied, tense. "The Guardian simply said we would be returned."

"Guardian? Returned where?"

"Later, Doctor," Spock interrupted. He looked around. "Are you certain you brought nothing else with you?"

"Look, I got my shirt, the tricorder, the phaser, didn't have any communicator," McCoy crossed his arms. "Are either of you leaving something behind?"

"Doctor, only garbage that is routinely incinerated by the homeless, I-"

"Bones! Spock!" They whirled towards Kirk and saw a portal opening up before them. A dry and dark landscape looked back at them.

"Bones, set the phaser on overload, now," Kirk commanded. Above, they heard the rumble and stutter of a car engine turning back on.

McCoy complied and tossed the phaser a short distance away at the base of the hill. The tell-tale whine started cueing up.

"McCoy, in," Kirk pushed him forward and turned back. They had to make sure that phaser went off, or else Hogan and his men were doomed.

"Jim-"

"Now, Bones!"

"Jim, I can't, it's not letting me through!"

The panicked note whipped Kirk's attention from the phaser. McCoy's hand was stopped on an invisible barrier. Spock took the tricorder from the doctor and started rapidly playing through its memory. Kirk glanced back at the phaser. It was almost loud enough for the people on the other side to start noticing.

"Spock! Tell me you've got an answer!"

"Only a theory, Captain," he responded quickly. "There may be a temporal element to our travel. There's a chance that if we step through the time portal in the exact same, but reverse order from when we left, we may be allowed passage."

"Reverse…?" The phaser whined louder. "McCoy, follow right behind us!" Kirk commanded.

He and Spock jumped through the portal at the same time. McCoy watched them disappear, then heard the phaser's pitch warble ominously. It was time.

"Oh, God!" he shouted and leapt through the barrier.

Then a shockwave shattered the world.