Chapter 1 Switched

As Al rubbed his eyes to the flurry of activity, he looked around the room and said, "Oh boy." Men of assorted ranks as well as nationalities scrambled to dress. It took him a moment to process the sights. The uniform styles were old, presumably World War 2. The wooden bunks and musty smell belied normal barracks.

"Hurry it up. We got roll call."

Al looked at the man donning a British uniform.

Al said, "I don't understand."

A black man said, "Wake up, Carter. The Colonel will have a fit if you're late."

Al said, "An admiral is never late!"

A man spoke with a French accent, "He's dreaming. Maybe he wants a transfer to a Marlag instead of a Stalag."

Al slowly sat up as a colonel entered the room wearing the crush cap and jacket of a bomber pilot. The man said, "Hurry it up, Carter. I don't like these early roll calls either but we have to keep the Krauts happy."

As the men laughed, Al slowly stood. He felt confused. Only one other time during the course of Project Quantum Leap had Al switched places with Sam, landing him in 1945. Fate returned him to this era. The strange uniforms, the references to Krauts – was he again a prisoner of war?

A large guard dressed in a Luftwaffe uniform snapped, "Roust! Roust! Do not keep the Kommandant waiting!"

The colonel said, "We're coming."

The guard approached Al and said, "Carter, you're going to be late! That is verboten!"

"Give it a rest," said a black sergeant. "He's sleepwalking. He thinks he's an admiral and wants a transfer to a Marlag!"

"Jolly jokers," grumbled the guard.

Al finally said, "I'm hurrying." Yes, he made the leap instead of Sam. The period required someone alive and Al was born in 1934, whereas Sam was not born until 1953. What purpose did Fate intend? Was Sam in the waiting room wondering the same thing? He began scrambling to don his uniform. He was Air Corps, a technical sergeant, and his name was Carter.

The men scrambled and started a formation outside of the barracks. Al looked around and saw the fences crowned with barbed wire. Guards roamed with rifles while others remained vigilant in towers manning machine guns. The water tower had half-melted snow on one side as the sun tried to thaw it. The ground was dirt with patches of snow and ice. The temperature was above freezing.

Al felt confused as the men deliberately interfered with the guard's attempt to count the prisoners. He watched as the guard began pleading. Colonel Hogan – that was the name of the officer. He listened for other clues. Prisoners of war in such proximity of course would know each other's name. Kinchloe, Newkirk, LeBeau, Olsen, Wilson – he had to focus. The guard's name was Schultzie. No, wait; it was Schultz.

Then began a series of catcalls and whistles; Al smelled a waft of perfume that hinted of lavender. He turned and saw a nurse approaching the formation. He quickly realized by her uniform that she was an American nurse, a lieutenant colonel. Women did not belong in POW camps.

"Ach! Fraulein Oberst! You brighten my day with your smile," smiled Schultz.

Al said, "Knock it off." He did not know what possessed him to speak in such a manner.

Kinchloe said, "Careful, Carter. Don't antagonize Schultz, especially today."

Al turned and quietly said, "He's being rude to her."

Kinchloe said, "Wake up. You're still having that dream."

Al watched as a tall man wearing a Luftwaffe uniform exited a building wearing a monocle and carrying a riding crop. He was an officer. Al strained to determine his rank. He was clearly a man of authority as the guard demonstrated military courtesy. The man snapped, "Report!"

Schultz said, "All present, Herr Kommandant." The Kommandant, thought Al. He had to be at least a major, but the rank did not look correct.

Hogan said, "Good morning."

The Kommandant snapped, "I have not addressed you, Colonel Hogan. No speaking out of turn!"

Hogan said, "Sheesh! The Kommandant got up on the wrong side of the bed."

"Not another word," said the Kommandant. "I need your men on their best behavior. General Burkhalter will be here in an hour."

Hogan said, "And why wasn't I notified?" As the men laughed, Al could not believe the man dared make such a quip. He saw the Kommandant's face turn beet red. What kind of camp was this?

The Kommandant said, "Hogan, I'm warning you. There had better be no foolishness. Make sure your men clean the barracks." Turning to the woman he said, "Fraulein Oberst, I trust that today's parade will lack one certain song."

Hogan said, "We don't parade."

The woman indignantly said, "You always say that when it's my turn to lead parade!"

The Kommandant said, "If I hear so much as a single syllable in French I will put you in the cooler for thirty days."

LeBeau said, "C'est la vie."

The Kommandant snarled, "Very funny, Cockroach." Turning to Hogan he said, "I think that for today you should cancel parade."

Hogan sighed, "Alright." There were a series of moans. Hogan said, "You heard Kommandant Klink. Parade is canceled today."

The woman grumbled, "Barbarians."

Al watched as the Kommandant approached the woman. He calmly said, "Fraulein Oberst, if I were a barbarian, I would send you off to Ravensbruck. They recently hung three women found guilty of espionage. They worked for the Special Operations Executive."

The woman said, "A jury of their peers found them guilty?"

Klink said, "The evidence was overwhelming and it was a military panel that found them guilty. We may not see eye to eye, but I know you are just a nurse and not a spy or saboteur. Think of this camp as home."

Hogan said, "Leave her be. You're frightening her."

Al watched as the two men stared at each other, one slightly defiant while the other in an almost aristocratic manner. Then he saw a shimmering doorway and Sam appeared. One of the guard dogs began barking and Sam snapped, "Hacke!" Yes, Al started remembering…Sam spoke German. The dog turned his head in a quizzical manner before continuing along with its handler.

Klink snapped, "Dismissed!"

As the men dispersed, Al knew he had to make contact with Sam. He began walking about, unsure of where to go or what to do. Sam's hologram simulated the action. Al quietly said, "What's going on Sam?"

Sam replied, "It's March 15, 1945. You're in a prisoner of war camp for Air Corps personnel. This is Stalag 13. You're Technical Sergeant Andrew Carter."

Al said, "I can't be a POW."

Sam said, "This is no ordinary POW camp. That man over there is Colonel Robert Hogan. He runs an outfitting and embarkation center for escaping POW's. Stalag 13 is known as the toughest POW camp in all of Germany. Ever since Colonel Wilhelm Klink assumed command, no one ever escaped. That's because the prisoners willingly remained so as not to blow their operation. They helped hundreds of men escape Germany. They also did a lot of sabotage on the side."

Al said, "Okay, I can handle that."

Sam said, "Ziggy is trying to figure out why you're here. So far, our best guess is saving the team from execution."

Al raised an eyebrow and said, "Execution?"

Sam said, "Someone exposed Colonel Hogan's operation. The Gestapo executed the main cadre by firing squad. They violated the Geneva Convention, Article 66. They were found guilty and the Gestapo immediately carried out the sentence instead of waiting three months."

Al asked, "What about the woman?"

Sam said, "Lieutenant Colonel Maria Saunders, attached to the 82nd Airborne. No one knows for sure what happened to her. She disappeared. A couple thought she escaped, but Colonel Klink always maintained no one ever escaped. Some survivors suspected that she betrayed Hogan's men and told the Gestapo everything. Some thought the Gestapo tortured her and others thought she was working with them the entire time."

Al asked, "Carter?"

"Executed," said Sam. "You're part of the cadre. You're in charge of explosives. Whatever happens, it's soon. The execution takes place in three days."

Al exclaimed, "Three days?" Several passing men gave strange looks to Al, who merely shrugged. Once they were out of earshot he quietly continued, "That's not much time."

Sam said, "I know. You're here instead of me. I'm going to do all that I can to help you."

Al listened patiently as Sam briefed him on the core team. Colonel Robert Hogan was a bomber pilot and commanding officer. He was a cunning man and expertly ran the operation. No one knew exactly how many men successfully escaped Germany. The team saved hundreds of Allied soldiers and airmen. They also helped fleeing defectors. On several occasions, they captured important German prisoners and sent them off to England.

Staff Sergeant James Kinchloe was Hogan's second in command. His primary responsibility was operating the radio and all electronic communications. Fluent in German and French, he impersonated by telephone high ranking officers as part of schemes to manipulate Klink into doing things Hogan needed to succeed in his missions.

Corporal Peter Newkirk was RAF and a jack-of-all-trades. Among his many talents he was a card sharp, pick pocket, burglar/thief, conman, magician, lock picker, and safecracker. While his talents caused problems in civilian life, they proved valuable assets in Hogan's operations.

Corporal Louis LeBeau was a member of the Free French Air Force and one of the earliest inmates at Stalag 13. He was a gourmet chef and often cooked meals (under orders) to help Klink out of certain jams or to assist Hogan with intelligence gathering. Some thought he was a hemophiliac, constantly suffering from the cold.

Al finally said, "Sounds like a crack team. What did Colonel Saunders do?"

Sam said, "She was a career nurse, having served 25 years in the Army. The 82nd Airborne did try establishing its own espionage effort and she was recruited into it. They used her to carry messages and impersonate German women. Her unit was betrayed and she ended up here."

Al said, "I like her. She doesn't belong here."

Sam said, "Al, you have to be careful. Someone is about to betray Colonel Hogan and his men. It could be her."

Al said, "And it might not be her."

Sam said, "Ziggy is doing the research. It's difficult. The Gestapo burned many records when Task Force Baum infiltrated the region around March 24. It failed, but the 47th Tank Battalion eventually arrived and liberated the camp April 6. That's three weeks from now. Al, if Ziggy is correct, saving these men means they'll soon be liberated. We only have survivors' stories."

Al said, "I'll figure it out, Sam."

Sam said, "Good. These men understand the risks. They rescued hundreds."

Al remembered the angst he felt as a prisoner of war. No one tried to rescue him. At least here, men willingly took the risk. For them to face a firing squad did not seem right. Someone betrayed them and he felt determined to prevent that.

#QL x HH#

Al stared in the mirror. He was a young man not even thirty. Is this what Sam experienced? The face was not his. He did not belong here but he had to belong here. Leaping into such a role required commitment to a team.

LeBeau asked, "Are you alright Andre? You're not sick, are you?"

Al said, "I am a little out of sorts today. I'll be fine."

LeBeau said, "Maybe you should go to the infirmary. Mademoiselle took the duty today since Colonel Hogan canceled parade."

"I like her," said Al.

LeBeau said, "Oui, but if you call her old again she might just break your neck."

Al laughed, "She's beautiful."

LeBeau said, "Ah, I understand! This entire time you secretly love her. Even I am not so foolish."

Al asked, "What's so foolish about that?"

LeBeau said, "Do not misunderstand, mon ami. Someday we will leave this camp. We will go our separate ways. I think you love her because she is the only American woman here. You always did have a strange way of trying to protect her."

Al sighed, "This is no place for a woman."

LeBeau said, "Oui. London wishes her to remain. They don't use her often for the espionage work but you have to admit having a nurse is good. Remember Corporal Sharp? Ah, she saved his life with that blood transfusion. Go on, go see her."

Al said, "I think I will." He exited the barracks and realized he did not know where the infirmary was. For him to ask someone would be peculiar. He meandered slightly, lost in thought. Despite his age, he leapt into the body of a much younger man. Times and morals were different. Older women did not liaison with younger men. He saw the energy field appear and then Sam.

Al said, "Infirmary."

Sam said, "Coming right up." He pressed assorted buttons on the controller and then said, "Second building on your right."

"Good," said Al.

Sam said, "I've been interviewing Sergeant Carter in the waiting room. Whatever is about to happen to the team catches them completely off guard. They understand that someone could betray them at a moment's notice but right now, there are no warning signs. There – Krankenstation. That's German for infirmary."

Al entered and saw a clean room with meticulously maintained beds. There was not a speck of dust. Saunders was sitting in a chair reading a tattered book. He said, "I'm feeling a little off."

Saunders said, "Have a seat. You do look a little flushed, Sergeant Carter. Corporal Newkirk said you had a dream where you were an admiral."

Sam said, "Al, you didn't."

Al said, "I did."

Saunders laughed, "I see. You defected from the Air Corps to the Navy pretty quickly." Al watched as she shook a thermometer. Then she looked at him. He opened his mouth. She said, "Lucky I'm using this one today." He tried not to laugh. He sat still as she took his wrist and looked at her watch. After a couple of moments, she removed the thermometer.

Al asked, "Well?"

"You seem normal," said Saunders. "I think you're just tired. You've been going out on a lot of missions lately. Get some rest while you can. With Burkhalter around, Klink will be on edge. That'll upset the normal camp routine. Colonel Hogan needs you at your best."

Al stood and said, "You're very kind. I'll do whatever I can to keep you safe."

Saunders said, "I know you will. Oh, Colonel Hogan told me all about your little game. Calling me old all the time and comparing me to your mom! It's still insulting but who would dare assault good old mom. I know I'm not a young woman anymore. Take my advice, Sergeant. Find yourself a good woman. Make the time for her. I suspect one day you'll get married. I hope you end up with at least three daughters."

Al said, "Why not sons?"

Saunders teased, "If Fate has a sense of humor, let's just say it'll be good payback for all the times you compared me to your mom."

Sam said, "She's got you there."

Al laughed, "Thank you, Colonel."

As Al walked about the compound Sam said, "Ziggy thinks he found out what happened to her."

Al said, "Oh?"

Sam said, "In 1975 the camp was undergoing some renovations to make it more hospitable for tourists. They were digging up a foundation and discovered female skeletal remains." Al stopped dead in his tracks. Sam continued, "They never put one and one together to get two. Whoever she was, she was not in uniform."

Al asked, "Would there be anything clothing left to tell?"

Sam said, "There were some shreds but not the uniforms she wore. The remains also lacked any signs of a nurse's cap or rank. You noticed that she wears the silver oak leaf clusters. Those should have survived. The hair was very short. They thought it was a concentration camp victim who somehow ended up buried here. It's inconclusive. Maybe Kommandant Klink was right. No one escapes Stalag 13."

Al said, "Thanks Sam." He watched as Hogan approached and said, "Good morning."

Hogan stood akimbo and said, "Feeling better?"

Al said, "I guess so, sir."

Hogan moved to Al's side and quietly said, "We have a mission. I need to know that you're on board."

Al said, "You can count on me."

"Good," said Hogan. "Down below. Newkirk is getting your Wehrmacht uniform ready."

Al said, "But I don't speak German."

Hogan laughed, "Ah, that's a good one Carter." As Kinchloe approached Hogan said, "Carter just told me he doesn't speak German."

Kinchloe laughed, "Oh, I see! Next time we need someone to impersonate Hitler I guess I'll have to do it!" The two men laughed and Al felt confused.

Sam said, "I'll be right beside you."

Al followed the two men to the barracks. He watched as Kinchloe activated the bunk ladder. Clever! He followed Kinchloe down into the tunnels and let out a low whistle. He said, "This is beautiful."

Kinchloe laughed, "Quit acting like this is the first time you've seen this. Come on. Newkirk is waiting."

Hogan asked, "Carter, are you sure you're up for this?"

Al said, "I'm fine. I'm just worried about her."

Hogan said, "I hope you haven't been upsetting her again. Every mission I pray we don't need her medical services. Most of the time, God has enough sense of humor to accommodate me. Ah, Newkirk! I want you two to be extra careful. With Burkhalter coming, I can't go with you. This is just a quick trip to the Hofbrau."

Newkirk said, "I have been feeling a little thirsty."

Hogan said, "Don't get drunk. Pinocchio will pass you a roll of film. Go on, Carter. You can't go to the Hofbrau in that uniform."

"Oh, right," said Al. Newkirk pulled off a glove and smacked Al on top of the head. Al said, "Hey! What'd you do that for?"

Newkirk said, "Don't be daft today. We need our wits about us. This is a daylight operation."

Hogan said, "Pinocchio is expecting two Wehrmacht soldiers. The recognition code: is the road to Munchen safe today? The response must be: only for gophers."

Newkirk said, "Blimey, who comes up with these things? Hurry it up, Andrew. We haven't got all day."

Al changed into the German uniform, with Sam quietly giving instructions. Quietly – it wasn't as if anyone else could hear him. Sam had Ziggy researching the floorplans of the tunnel networks but it seemed impossible. When the Germans discovered the tunnels, they destroyed the various mechanisms and apparatus. Then they brought in truckloads of dirt to fill in the tunnels. Some men drew rough diagrams to include with memoirs.

There were variances in the diagrams and recollections but several things proved constant. The radio was directly beneath the Kommandant's building. One tunnel led to an exit through an old tree stump. Another tunnel led directly to the cooler. It was rumored the tunnels extended and connected in the same manner as the topside buildings.

While Al outranked Newkirk, or rather, Carter did, Newkirk acted a natural leader accustomed to ordering about the technical sergeant. In part, Al felt insulted by the disrespect for the rank. He also felt somewhat relieved, not knowing his way around the tunnel system. Sam disappeared for a few moments but when he returned he explained he had Ziggy make a floorplan of the tunnels.

LeBeau anxiously approached and said, "Colonel, we've got trouble."

Hogan snapped, "What is it?"

LeBeau said, "Colonel Wagner is in camp."

Hogan asked, "Horse or car?"

"Horse," said LeBeau.

Hogan sarcastically said, "That's just great."

Al asked, "What's wrong?"

Hogan said, "Carter, I'm beginning to think your head is not in the game today. You know that whenever Wagner is riding around on horse that he's conducting training drills. The woods will be crawling with Krauts."

Al said, "Oh, right."

Newkirk said, "Blimey, we can get out of here and blend in but some ruddy officer will stop us from leaving the training area."

Hogan said, "Kinch, contact the Underground. Tell them it's a scrub for now. Have Pinocchio standby. We'll try tonight."

LeBeau said, "Assuming that old glue rider isn't running drills all night."

Hogan said, "Let's hope not. Okay, you two, back into your regular uniforms."

While Al tended to the task quietly, Newkirk continuously muttered under his breath. Al wished there was an escape network that operated during the Vietnam War. He spent too many years as a POW. To be part of a historic operation such as the one Hogan ran, Al felt a sense of pride. Then he remembered that the team was about to face execution. It was up to him to save them.

#QL x HH#

Author notes: OC's have character development in another story that were not recapped in this side adventure. Saunders was shot down December 1942 and is a career army nurse age 46. Her rank of lieutenant colonel was the highest possible at that point in history, and only plausible considering her 25 years of Army service. Wagner is an old cavalry officer forced over to the infantry when Germany disbanded its cavalry. Wagner is one of Klink's rare friends he did not meet in gymnasium who also sees him as an extremely capable officer. Collins is an espionage/saboteur operative on assignment with 82nd Airborne currently working in the vicinity. The 82nd espionage operation suffered multiple failures in the other story. Carter was chosen as the leap target because his occasional buffoonery would allow goofs by Al to be overlooked. Carter's sense of protecting 'mom' filters through to Al.