"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."