Chapter 92: The UNO's Wrath

The resistance was growing.

James and his allies weren't the only ones defying the UNO's authority. Across the wasteland, survivor groups were beginning to question the new world order. Some hesitated, unsure whether to bend the knee or risk annihilation. Others chose to fight. And in the eyes of the UNO, defiance could not go unpunished.

A warning had to be sent.

Operation: Iron Grip

Elias Voss stood in the dimly lit command center of the UNO's underground city, his fingers steepled as he observed the map projections on the holo-display. Small resistance cells flickered across the surface, like embers in dry grass. Left alone, they could ignite a wildfire.

He would not allow that.

"This group near Sector Delta-17," he said, gesturing at a marked zone on the map. "The so-called 'Free Legion.'"

General Vivian Chen adjusted her gloves, her voice calm but edged with steel. "They've refused to comply with resource requisitions and attacked one of our patrols. Their numbers are small, but their influence is spreading. Other groups are looking to them for leadership."

Dr. Adrian Lorne scoffed. "Then let's make an example of them. Publicly. Brutally. A surgical strike will prevent others from thinking rebellion is an option."

Evelyn Roth, the political strategist, leaned back in her chair, a smirk playing on her lips. "We need to balance force with perception. If we go too far, we'll push more groups to desperation."

Voss raised a hand, silencing them. "We strike hard, but with precision. They will not be martyrs. They will be a lesson."

He turned to the operations officer. "Deploy Task Force Omega. I want the Free Legion eradicated within twenty-four hours."

The Ambush

The Free Legion camp was a modest settlement—crude barricades, repurposed ruins, a small but resilient community of fighters and families. They had begun believing they could stand against the UNO. That belief would be their undoing.

The first sign of trouble was the blackout.

Generators flickered and died, plunging the settlement into darkness. A moment of confusion. Then came the drones—silent, circling above, casting infrared eyes over the panicked survivors.

Then, the strike.

Explosions erupted along the perimeter, shattering the barricades. Gas canisters hissed as they landed, spewing thick clouds of nerve agents into the air. Survivors stumbled, coughing, blinded by the burning fog.

Then the soldiers came.

Black-clad enforcers moved like phantoms through the smoke, executing targets with ruthless efficiency. Resistance fighters fired back, but the UNO's forces were trained, disciplined, equipped with advanced armor and weaponry.

It was a massacre.

Captain Rourke, leader of the Free Legion, fought desperately, cutting down three UNO soldiers before a bullet took his leg out from under him. He roared in pain, still swinging his weapon even as the soldiers surrounded him.

A voice crackled over his captors' radios. "Bring him in alive."

The Broadcast

Hours later, across the wasteland, a chilling message echoed through old radio towers and scavenged screens. The UNO had ensured that every survivor, every resistance group, would hear it.

The image flickered—Captain Rourke, bound and bloodied, forced to kneel before a UNO banner. Behind him stood Elias Voss, calm, composed, his hands clasped behind his back.

"This," Voss said, voice smooth and unwavering, "is the fate of those who defy order."

He turned to Rourke. "You had a choice. Serve the future, or cling to the past."

Rourke spat blood onto the ground. "You're not the future. You're just another tyrant."

Voss sighed. "A shame."

He stepped aside as General Chen raised her sidearm. A single gunshot rang out.

The screen cut to black.

James Watches

James sat in silence, watching the broadcast in the dim glow of the base's command room. Around him, his closest allies absorbed the weight of what they had just seen.

Vivian's hands curled into fists. "They just executed him like it was nothing."

Ray exhaled sharply. "They're sending a message."

Mason shook his head. "It's not just a message. It's a challenge."

James stared at the blank screen, his mind racing. The UNO had drawn a line in the sand. Resistance would not be tolerated.

A notification blinked in his vision, invisible to all but him.

[Mission Triggered: Defying the Future]

Objective: Counteract the UNO's Psychological Warfare.

Reward: Strategic Communications Disruption Module

James's grip tightened.

"If they want war," he muttered, "we'll give them one."

This chapter highlights the brutal efficiency of the UNO and their willingness to crush opposition before it spreads. The execution of Captain Rourke is not just an act of war—it's a psychological weapon meant to instill fear. But fear can backfire. The more ruthless the UNO becomes, the more people may choose to resist rather than submit.