Chapter 42---Two Different Plans Are Set and Ready

Hogan and his core unit with the exception of Newkirk, were seated outside the barracks when the black staff car drove through the front gate and pulled up to a stop in front of the Kommandantur. They watched Schultz hurry to the back passenger side door and salute as he held the door open. As a large, powerfully built grey-haired man wearing a Luftwaffe Major's uniform got out, saluting Schultz, Klink emerged from the Kommandantur nervously saluting the Major who saluted as he stormed past him and up the stairs into the building with Klink hurrying to catch up with him.

"See that, Colonel," Kinch said as they watched. "Klink looked like he wasn't expecting this Major."

"I know," Hogan replied. He had noticed the driver of the vehicle glance in his direction and nod. Hogan's eyes narrowed. "Don't ask me how I know, but I suspect either the driver or this Major is Silver Fox."

The others looked at Hogan with concern. After speaking with Bluebird, Hogan had held a brief meeting to inform his men of Hochstetter's trap.

"You think so, Colonel?" asked Carter looking at Hogan over his shoulder.

"I do." Hogan wrapped his arms around himself. "LeBeau, walk pass the car and give a quick glance at the driver as you go up the steps to Klink's office. If the driver is Silver Fox, he'll slip you a message meant for me."

"Oui, mon Colonel," the little Frenchman replied as he hurried in the direction of the Kommandantur. As he passed by the front of the vehicle, he glanced at the driver who glanced over his shoulder before looking LeBeau up and down with apparent disdain. The Frenchman shrugged and started to turn towards the building when he heard a low voice from behind him. He turned. The driver was holding out a folded sheet of paper. LeBeau approached the vehicle and, looking around to be sure nobody was paying them any attention, took the paper from the man's hand.

"Give this to Colonel Hogan," the man said. "It's important that he get this."

"I'll see that he gets it," LeBeau replied. He quickly hurried back in the direction of the barracks. He handed the folded paper to the Colonel who unfolded it and quickly read the message. Refolding the paper, he tucked it inside his inner jacket pocket.

Hogan let his eyes rest on the driver who again looked in his direction. Getting to his feet while holding his side, Hogan headed inside the barracks with the others following. He led the way to his quarters. They noticed Newkirk sitting on the lower bunk with the coffee pot on the desk. Right now, there was silence.

"Anything?" Hogan asked Newkirk.

"Nothing much, Gov'nor. Klink's visitor is a Major Von Lauder, Luftwaffe. He stopped by the visit briefly with Klink while on his way to Berlin. Nothing important over the coffee pot, Colonel. Just the usual greetings and such. He told Klink he only stopped by to introduce himself before heading to Berlin."

"How come it's so quiet?" asked LeBeau.

"Oh that. The Major and old Blood and Guts just left Klink's office a few moments before you came in. I was just waiting to see if they came back in."

Hogan glanced over his shoulder. "Carter, check and see if this Major has left yet."

"Right away, Colonel." Carter hurried into the common room and cracked open the barracks door. About five minutes later, he closed the door and re-entered Hogan's quarters. "The Major just got in his car and drove off, sir. Klink went back into his office."

Hogan sighed. "Too much of a coincidence," he said. "I wondered how Hochstetter was going to get Silver Fox to deliver that supposed message from the underground operative to me."

"What did the message say, Colonel?" asked LeBeau.

Hogan, reaching inside his jacket, pulled out the folded paper and opened it. He read it aloud.

'Papa Bear….

I am called Blue Angel and am with the Hammelburg underground. I came across some information while I accidently overheard a conversation concerning the murder of a General Metzger in Stalag 13. However, I believe I am being watched but cannot be sure. I must meet with you to pass along this information. Please come to the Hofbrau tomorrow night at seven p.m. When you enter, sit at the bar. I will find you. Signed, Blue Angel.'

"I thought you weren't going to meet with this Blue Angel, Colonel?" asked Carter, confused. "You said he was working for Hochstetter."

"I did and I'm not, Carter," Hogan assured him. "We just can't afford to have Hochstetter and his goons prowling in the woods tomorrow after evening roll call while we're loading the boxes and crates in the mine, now can we?"

The others were all smiles, as they understood Hogan's thinking.

"In other words, Gov'nor, old Hochstetter's gonna be waitin' a long time for you."

"Too bad I won't be able to keep that meeting," Hogan said with a smirk. He chuckled when he recalled telling Bluebird the day and time he needed Hochstetter in town. "But I do have a previous appointment." Hogan glanced at Newkirk. "How are the boxes and crates coming?"

"All done, Colonel," the Englander replied.

"What about the explosives, Carter?" Hogan turned to the young Sergeant. "Are they ready?"

A wide smile broke out on Carter's face. "I got six of the best bombs you ever saw, Colonel," Carter replied. "In fact, they're the best I've ever made. In fact, they're so good you'll…."

"A simple yes would suffice, Carter," Hogan said rolling his eyes.

"Yes, sir," Carter replied, the smile disappearing.

Hogan sighed. "Okay. We have the truck, the explosives, and the boxes and crates. Skyhawk will contact me again tomorrow at twelve noon and I'll give him the time for our meeting at 2300 hours. The timers will be set for 2330 hours. We will leave right after evening roll call tomorrow and take everything to the mine and then set the timers on the explosives. When LeBeau, Carter and I meet Skyhawk tomorrow, we'll take him to the mine. Kinch is coming also but will stay hidden near the mine in the bushes in case something goes wrong and we need help."

"We're coming along, mon Colonel?" asked LeBeau, excited.

"Yep. You, Carter and Kinch are coming with me."

Newkirk suddenly frowned. "What about me, Gov'nor?" he asked. "What do you want me to do?"

Hogan frowned as he wrapped his arms around himself. "Newkirk, I'm afraid you're gonna be minding the store until we get back."

"I'm going to be what, Colonel? Did you just say I'll be minding the bleedin' store?"

"That's what I said, Newkirk," Hogan told him.

"Colonel, Metzger broke me left hand. Fortunately I use me right hand. I can still fire a gun. You gotta take me with you, sir. You need somebody to watch your back."

"That's why Kinch will stay hidden outside the mine."

"But Colonel…."

"Newkirk, listen to me." Hogan rested a hand on the Englander's shoulder. "I appreciate you wanting to help. I really do. But you have a broken left hand. And while it's true you're right handed, how are you going to reload your weapon if necessary? Suppose Skyhawk puts you in a position that requires you to use two hands? What are you going to do?"

Newkirk lowered and shook his head. He looked at Hogan.

"Colonel, you can't leave me sittin' back here goin' bloody crackers waiting for you to return. Broken hand or not, I still feel there must be something I can do."

"Sorry, Newkirk. But after you help with getting everything to the mine; your part in this is over."

"But Colonel…."

"I said no, Newkirk, and it's not open to discussion."

"Yes, sir," Newkirk muttered, discouraged. He sat down on the lower bunk and stared at the floor. He understood the Colonel's reasoning. That's all right, Gov'nor, Newkirk told himself as he raised his head and looked at his commanding officer. You tell me to wait here. But I promised when I joined you that I'd always be there to watch your back. And not even a broken hand is gonna keep me from doin' that.

Hogan felt badly about having to leave Newkirk out of things, but it was for the best.

Hochstetter grinned like a Cheshire cat. He had heard from Fuchs that the meeting between Hogan and Blue Angel would take place tomorrow night at the Hofbrau at seven p.m. Hochstetter couldn't contain himself; his enthusiasm was high. By tomorrow night he would have Hogan under arrest and would drag him back to Berlin and charge him not only with escape from Stalag 13, but with the murder of a Luftwaffe General.

He had marveled at his second-in-command's ingenuity at having one of the Gestapo officers dress up as a Luftwaffe Major who was passing by Stalag 13 and stopped inside for a short visit with Silver Fox disguised as his driver. Hochstetter had also been informed by the Captain that the message had been delivered to one of Hogan's men who in turn gave it to Hogan. The minute the Major had got off the phone with Fuchs; Hochstetter went about selecting ten of his best men with instructions to be dressed in plain clothes for a special assignment tomorrow night at the Hofbrau. He considered taking more men as he didn't want any chance of Hogan escaping this time. But finally decided ten was more than enough. And he would be attending as well. And he gave strict instructions to the guards he was taking with him that no harm was to come to Hogan, and any guard who fired his weapon would be shot. He wanted Hogan taken alive, and alive is what he wanted to guarantee.

Hochstetter smirked and rubbed his hands together excitedly. Right now he felt like a kid in a candy store. After tomorrow night he'd show Burkhalter, Klink, and everybody else who claimed Hogan was innocent. He chuckled when he thought about Klink; the empty-headed nobody in charge of Stalag 13. He'd take him down right after he arrested Hogan; because if it wasn't for that idiot Hogan would never have been able to get away with what he did. And perhaps Burkhalter would be brought down a peg also. Klink's inefficiency would reflect poorly on the General. The thought of the domino effect caused by Hogan's arrest tomorrow night was a thought that would enable Hochstetter to sleep peacefully tonight.