The arrested soldiers sat in the damp clearing, their hands bound behind their backs, their weapons confiscated and stacked near the Renault R35.
No one spoke.
The tension had only grown.
Moreau stood at the edge of the clearing, his gaze locked onto the trees ahead.
His hands were steady, but his mind raced.
Sothing about this was all wrong.
He turned back toward Renaud, who was watching the prisoners carefully.
"Renaud, get the radio operator. We need to send a ssage to Colonel Perrin imdiately. Use the encryption code."
Renaud gave a sharp nod. "I'll handle it." He turned and gestured toward Corporal the radio operator, who was already adjusting the frequency.
Moreau walked toward the group of captured soldiers, his boots crunching on the damp soil.
He crouched in front of the lieutenant, who was sitting on the ground, arms tied.
"I assu you know what happens next, Lieutenant."
The man smirked, unfazed. "You send to a desk in so command post, so half-drunk officer asks a few questions, and I sit in a cell until so bureaucrat decides what to do with ."
Moreau's expression remained unreadable. "A convenient version of events. But I don't think that's what's going to happen this ti."
The lieutenant's smirk faltered slightly. "Why? Because you captured us? Do you think that changes anything? You don't even understand what you've stumbled into."
Moreau narrowed his eyes. "Then explain sothing to , Lieutenant."
The man tilted his head slightly. "I suppose you'll be asking about the bigger picture, Capitaine?"
Moreau crouched lower, his voice steady. "I want to know about the missing patrols. The ones who were stationed near this area. We found no bodies, but we found their equipnt, their truck, and blood. Why make it seem like Germans or Spaniards did this?"
The lieutenant didn't answer imdiately.
His smirk returned, though smaller now, more asured.
"It's war, Capitaine. Things happen. Borders are a delicate thing. So things must be… directed in a certain way."
Moreau's jaw tightened. "That's not an answer."
The lieutenant gave a slow shrug. "It's the only one you'll get."
Moreau scoffed, leaning in slightly. "What is it? Did your orders include slaughtering our own n and covering it up? Is that what you were told to do? Make it seem like foreign aggression so the High Command can justify sothing else? A new operation? A reason to shift troops? Or was it just an experint to see how much could be manipulated before soone caught on?"
The lieutenant chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Ah, Capitaine, you ask too many questions for a soldier. That will get you in trouble."
Moreau's voice dropped lower. "Trouble seems to have already found , wouldn't you say?"
The lieutenant exhaled, his amusent dimming just slightly. "If I told you everything, what would you do? You'd run back to your Colonel, screaming conspiracy? You'd sound the alarm that n in higher places are playing chess while you march like a pawn? No. That's not how this works. So things you learn too late. And others, you learn when it no longer matters."
Moreau studied him carefully. "So, you're telling nothing. Even when you know I'll take you to headquarters, and this will only get worse for you?"
The lieutenant's smirk returned. "Oh, I highly doubt we'll be making it to headquarters, Capitaine."
Before Moreau could respond, Renaud's voice rang out.
"ssage sent! Now we wait for a response."
Moreau stood, watching as Corporal adjusted the radio set, the low noise of the machine filling the tense air.
The encryption Perrin had given them would ensure the ssage got through, but it also ant it wouldn't be quick.
Minutes passed.
Moreau paced.
Renaud kept a wary eye on the prisoners, occasionally glancing toward the tree line.
The n in their unit shifted uneasily, gripping their weapons just a little tighter.
Then, the radio crackled to life.
Corporal rushed to adjust the signal, pressing the receiver against his ear. "It's Perrin!"
Moreau strode over imdiately. "What does he say?"
He scribbled notes onto his pad, nodding to himself as he repeated back the ssage.
"No delays. No unnecessary stops. Watch for ambush. Move directly to headquarters. Full authority granted to override orders from any major or colonel."
A heavy silence followed.
Moreau exhaled slowly. "That bad, huh?"
Renaud stepped forward, expression grim. "You don't tell soone to disregard orders from senior officers unless you expect soone to try and stop them."
Moreau nodded, his mind racing. "We move now. Form up the n. Get the prisoners secured to the back of the Renault. Make sure they're watched at all tis."
Renaud hesitated. "You're sure we don't interrogate them first? There's got to be more they're not telling us."
"No ti." Moreau glanced toward the lieutenant, who was watching him with a quiet amusent that set him on edge. "Perrin's warning is clear, if we stop, we're vulnerable. Soone doesn't want them making it back to headquarters."
Renaud let out a frustrated sigh but nodded. "Alright. But I don't like this, Étienne."
Moreau walked toward the tank, placing a hand on the cold tal.
The Renault R35 had been their shield, but it wouldn't save them if soone was determined to wipe them out.
Corporal continued receiving another short burst of encrypted ssages.
"Additional orders, Capitaine. Perrin says to take control of any unit we et along the way. If they try to delay us, we overrule them. No exceptions."
Moreau nodded. "Understood. That ans there's more at play here than just a rogue unit. This is bigger than them."
Renaud stepped beside him. "Sothing fucking bad is going to happen, Moreau. This whole situation slls rotten. And that threat the lieutenant gave you? It wasn't for show."
Moreau sighed, gripping the bridge of his nose. "I know. And if Perrin is this worried, it ans there's more going on in Paris than we realize."
He turned back to the prisoners.
"Load them up. Keep eyes on them at all tis. We're leaving."
The n moved quickly, securing the captives to the back of the Renault with reinforced bindings.
Moreau climbed onto the tank, scanning the treeline one last ti.
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