Chapter 89 – Arming the Resistance

The air was heavy with tension as Ray and I went over the mission details one last time. The UNO's announcement had sent shockwaves through the survivor groups, and we had no choice but to act fast. If we were going to resist their rule, we needed weapons, allies, and a solid plan.

"We need to move before the UNO tightens its grip," I said, strapping a reinforced vest over my jacket. "This is our only chance to secure enough firepower before their patrols start sweeping the region."

Ray nodded, checking his sidearm. "And what about the survivors? You really think they'll trust us?"

"They don't have a choice." I loaded my rifle and secured a knife at my belt. "If they want to stay free, they'll need us."

Mason's voice crackled over the radio. "Scouts spotted a lightly guarded UNO supply cache about 12 miles west. Looks like an old military depot. High chance they've stored weapons there."

I exhaled. "Then that's our target."

Vivian stepped forward, arms crossed. "And if it's a trap?"

I looked at her, dead serious. "Then we fight our way out."

---

The Raid

We moved quickly, skimming the abandoned roads under the cover of night. The depot was built into the side of a ruined industrial facility—once a thriving military warehouse, now a forgotten relic of a world that no longer existed.

Ray scouted ahead, his movements silent. "Two guards at the entrance, both armed."

I took a deep breath. "Non-lethal if possible. We need speed, not a firefight."

Ray gave a quick nod, then slipped through the shadows. Moments later, a soft thud. One guard down. I moved swiftly behind him, taking the second before he could react.

We pushed into the depot. Rows of crates stacked high, marked with military insignia. Ammunition. Rifles. Explosives. More than we had dared hope for.

Ray let out a low whistle. "Jackpot."

We moved fast, loading supplies into reinforced crates, hauling everything to the truck. But we weren't alone.

Mason's voice burst through the radio. "You've got incoming! UNO patrol moving fast—ETA two minutes!"

I clenched my teeth. "We need more time!"

Vivian was already moving, setting up a defensive perimeter. "We either hold them off or we're dead."

The first shots rang out.

Bullets tore through the darkness as UNO soldiers closed in. I returned fire, keeping my movements sharp and controlled. We had the advantage of cover, but they had numbers.

A grenade rolled toward us.

Ray reacted instantly, kicking it back before it could detonate. The explosion rocked the depot, sending a shockwave through the structure. We had to move—now.

"Truck's full—go!" I shouted, firing a last shot before diving into the vehicle.

Ray slammed the accelerator, tires screeching as we tore out of the depot. Bullets chased us into the night, but we were gone.

---

Gathering the Survivors

We didn't stop. The next phase was even more critical—bringing smaller survivor groups under our banner before the UNO turned them into unwilling subjects.

The first camp was a scattered group of around forty people, hiding in the ruins of a collapsed city. Skeptical, starving, armed with little more than rusted knives and makeshift weapons.

I stood before them, letting my words cut through the silence. "The UNO is coming. They will take everything you have and call it 'order.' If you want to stay free, you need to fight."

A man stepped forward, his face worn with distrust. "And what makes you different?"

I reached into my pack and pulled out something that spoke louder than words—a fresh apple.

Their eyes widened. A symbol of something greater. Hope. Survival.

"We have food. We have weapons. We have a chance." I met their gazes one by one. "Stand with us, and we'll make sure the UNO never owns you."

Silence stretched. Then, one by one, they nodded. The first group had joined us.

Over the next two days, we moved from camp to camp. Gathering. Recruiting. Building something that could stand against the UNO.

By the end of the week, we had more than two hundred survivors willing to fight.

But we needed more.

---

System Reward: A Game-Changer

As we returned to base, exhaustion pulled at my limbs, but the System's familiar voice chimed in my mind.

[Mission Complete: Strategic Expansion]

Reward Granted: Landmine Production & Enhanced Tactical Maps]

My heart pounded. Landmines.

This wasn't just a passive defense measure. This was a weapon that could turn the battlefield in our favor.

I glanced at Ray. "We're about to make sure the UNO never walks into our territory unprepared."

He grinned. "I like the sound of that."

---

Preparing for War

We wasted no time integrating the new reward. Landmines were hidden around key approach routes, turning every inch of land between us and the UNO into a potential death trap.

At the same time, the tactical maps gave us real-time updates on enemy patrols, helping us move our forces without detection.

It wasn't just about surviving anymore.

We were preparing for war.

Vivian walked up beside me as I studied the maps. "They'll come looking for us soon."

I nodded. "Let them."

The UNO thought they were the ones in control. They thought we were just scattered survivors. They had no idea what was coming.

James and Rey are taking the first real steps toward resistance, gathering survivors and preparing for the inevitable clash with the New UNO. But with every move, the stakes get higher. Can they truly unite enough strength to stand against a global power? And what surprises does the system have in store next?

Let me know what you think! What would you do in James's position?