Reincarnated: Vive La France-Chapter 35: "No Delay. No Unnecessary stops. Watch for Ambush."

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.

Something 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 message to Colonel Perrin immediately. 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 assume you know what happens next, Lieutenant."

The man smirked, unfazed. "You send me to a desk in some command post, some half-drunk officer asks a few questions, and I sit in a cell until some bureaucrat decides what to do with me."

Moreau's expression remained unreadable. "A convenient version of events. But I don't think that's what's going to happen this time."

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 something to me, 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 equipment, their truck, and blood. Why make it seem like Germans or Spaniards did this?"

The lieutenant didn't answer immediately.

His smirk returned, though smaller now, more measured.

"It's war, Capitaine. Things happen. Borders are a delicate thing. Some 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 men and covering it up? Is that what you were told to do? Make it seem like foreign aggression so the High Command can justify something else? A new operation? A reason to shift troops? Or was it just an experiment to see how much could be manipulated before someone 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 me, wouldn't you say?"

The lieutenant exhaled, his amusement 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 men in higher places are playing chess while you march like a pawn? No. That's not how this works. Some things you learn too late. And others, you learn when it no longer matters."

Moreau studied him carefully. "So, you're telling me 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.

"Message 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 message got through, but it also meant it wouldn't be quick.

Minutes passed.

Moreau paced.

Renaud kept a wary eye on the prisoners, occasionally glancing toward the tree line.

The men 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 immediately. "What does he say?"

He scribbled notes onto his pad, nodding to himself as he repeated back the message.

"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 someone to disregard orders from senior officers unless you expect someone to try and stop them."

Moreau nodded, his mind racing. "We move now. Form up the men. Get the prisoners secured to the back of the Renault. Make sure they're watched at all times."

Renaud hesitated. "You're sure we don't interrogate them first? There's got to be more they're not telling us."

"No time." Moreau glanced toward the lieutenant, who was watching him with a quiet amusement that set him on edge. "Perrin's warning is clear, if we stop, we're vulnerable. Someone 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 metal.

The Renault R35 had been their shield, but it wouldn't save them if someone was determined to wipe them out.

Corporal continued receiving another short burst of encrypted messages.

"Additional orders, Capitaine. Perrin says to take control of any unit we meet along the way. If they try to delay us, we overrule them. No exceptions."

Moreau nodded. "Understood. That means there's more at play here than just a rogue unit. This is bigger than them."

Renaud stepped beside him. "Something fucking bad is going to happen, Moreau. This whole situation smells 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 means 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 times. We're leaving."

The men moved quickly, securing the captives to the back of the Renault with reinforced bindings.

Moreau climbed onto the tank, scanning the treeline one last time.