A/N: Well, this is the end, folks. Yes, I focused mostly on the HH part, because the ST part didn't feel wholly necessary. This has been a long, grueling fic that really tried my patience at times, yet I'm fairly content with the result. If any of y'all have questions, nitpicks, or loopholes, let me know. I can try to fill them in as best I can, though I only have a couple of the updated/edited chapters. Wow. I'm really tired. I'll stop talking and let y'all enjoy the rest of the story.

What happened sir? Y'only left a moment ago.

We were successful.

Captain, I've reestablished contact with the Enterprise. They're asking if we would like to beam up…

Hogan had his eyes closed. Without the visual distraction of the general, he realized he could faintly hear an increasing whine off in the distance. Burkhalter ordered the car started up again, and his eyes flew open as the engine rumbled to life.

"Wait, sir, you really should-"

A loud and bright boom suddenly shook the entire hill. Everybody not in the car hit the dirt as fast as they could. It felt like the hill got punched, and Hogan reckoned that it had absorbed most of the shockwave for this side. He hoped Kirk and the others made it.

A car door opened and Burkhalter struggled out and fell on the dirt next to him. Hogan propped himself up on his elbow. "Aren't you glad you waited, sir?"

The men slowly started getting to their feet. There was minor chaos as the two other guards and LeBeau tried to calm the barking dogs. Hogan jogged up to the crest and looked down. His eyes bugged. An impressive crater was at the bottom of the hill. Fortunately, neither Kirk, Grayson, nor McCoy were anywhere to be seen. He let out a sigh of relief. The plan seemed to have worked.

Burkhalter was back on his feet and yelling at Schultz. The poor sergeant seemed especially shaken, though Hogan couldn't tell if it was mostly from the explosion or the chewing out. He met up with LeBeau and they got closer to the argument.

"-how could you miss a landmine? With all these prisoners! And the dogs! And your fat belly!"

Schultz trembled. "Herr, Herr General, please…"

"The prisoners didn't miss any mines," Hogan interrupted brusquely. "Because I just lost two of my men! That mine took out Kirk and Grayson- and you can bet the Geneva Convention will hear about this!"

"Are they dead, Hogan?" Burkhalter fumed. "Or are you covering their escape?"

"What set off the mine, then?" Hogan answered with enough anger to make it believable. "There's a large crater on the other side, with only a few bits of them scattered around the edges!"

Burkhalter's driver finally grew some nerves and spoke up. "C-can I drive the car over that c-crater?"

"You can get it in, but good luck getting it out," Hogan replied. "Looks like we're all walking back."

"Walking all the way to Stalag 13?" The general's voice rose an octave. "Let me see that crater!"

He pushed past them and labored up the hill. Everyone followed, and looked down to what the general was seeing. Finally, after catching his breath, Burkhalter crossed his arms.

"I can hardly believe it," he muttered. "I want all the prisoners walking in front of us, Sergeant. In case there are any other mines you missed."

"Jawohl!" Schultz saluted.

Burkhalter scowled at the still-barking dogs. "Put them up front, too. Might as well make them useful."

"Wait, those are mine-sniffing dogs?" LeBeau wondered. "I thought they were the anti-tank breed."

"SCHNELL!" Burkhalter snapped. Then Hogan heard him mutter, "Klink's discovery had better be worth this…"

"But General, I promise you, it was right here!"

"You promised?!"

"General, please!"

The gang chuckled from around the coffeepot. It was always fun to hear Klink squirm.

"Klink! I don't know why I bothered coming out here. First, I am almost blown up by a landmine. Next I have to walk to Stalag 13. Then I slip on some unknown substance in your front office…"

Carter and Newkirk grinned at each other.

"… and now you have no 'unusual object' to show me!"

"May I remind you, General, that it hasn't been a good day for me, either. Two of my prisoners have been killed!"

"Consider yourself lucky that it wasn't me."

"Alright, alright," Hogan pulled the plug as the grins and chuckles increased. "It's been an interesting past few days, but now it's back to the grind. The war hasn't stopped, you know."

There were a few groans as the men filed out. Hogan started putting away the pot and noticed Kinch lingering by the door, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Something on your mind, Kinch?"

He looked over at him. "Just their devices, Colonel. If we're developing technology like that, whatever it does, well…" he shook his head, though a smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. His mind was on a checkers game. "It's just nice having some hope for the future."