Chapter 93 – The War of Perception

The New UNO thrived on control, on the illusion of order in a chaotic world. They broadcast their vision as humanity's only salvation, portraying themselves as the last bastion of civilization. But I knew the truth—order enforced by fear was just another form of tyranny. If we were to win this war, we had to strike at their greatest strength: their reputation. And to do that, we needed to wage a war of perception.

I sat in the dimly lit command room of our base, surrounded by the hum of equipment scavenged and repurposed from old-world technology. Ray stood beside me, arms crossed, skeptical as ever. Across from me, Mason leaned forward, eyes flicking between the screen and a stack of notes.

"So, you want to use their own tactics against them?" Ray asked, raising an eyebrow. "Propaganda?"

"Not just propaganda," I corrected, adjusting the frequency on our makeshift broadcasting unit. "We control the flow of information. The UNO thrives on their narrative of control. We give people an alternative—an undeniable truth they can't ignore."

Vivian, sitting nearby with a map spread in front of her, smirked. "And what's the first step?"

I turned the dial, and the screen flickered to life. A stolen UNO transmission played—General Vivian Chen addressing a group of survivors who had been 'integrated' into their system.

'Your contributions ensure humanity's survival. Cooperation is not optional,' her voice echoed through the static-laced video.

Mason let out a low whistle. "Not exactly subtle, are they?"

I tapped a few keys, isolating certain parts of the message. "With a few edits, we can change the tone. Make it seem like they see survivors as nothing more than resources to be used and discarded."

Ray exhaled. "This is dangerous."

I nodded. "So is letting them win."

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Planting the Seeds of Doubt

The first step was subtle. We needed whispers before shouts, doubts before open rebellion. The best lies were wrapped in truth, and the truth was that the UNO wasn't the savior they claimed to be.

Using a stolen UNO broadcast frequency, we carefully leaked intercepted messages—unedited but placed in a way that highlighted their ruthlessness. The casual way they discussed 'acceptable losses.' Their dismissal of independent survivor groups as 'expendable assets.'

To the untrained ear, these weren't outright confessions of tyranny, but for those already wary of the UNO, they confirmed their worst fears.

Mason monitored the responses from various survivor groups, scanning radio frequencies and word-of-mouth reports. "It's working. People are talking. They're questioning."

But we needed more.

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The Illusion of Defeat

The next phase was riskier: staged attacks. We made it seem as though the UNO was losing control. A few well-placed ambushes against their patrols—never us directly, always through intermediaries. Survivors willing to fight but afraid of open resistance were given weapons and training. We made sure their raids weren't just for supplies but strategically designed to make the UNO seem weak.

Then, we amplified the damage.

Anonymous broadcasts detailed 'widespread desertions' within the UNO ranks. Stories spread of entire platoons abandoning their posts, of secret negotiations between UNO officers and rebel forces.

Some of it was true. Most of it wasn't.

Vivian tapped her fingers on the map. "They'll react. And when they do, they'll try to reestablish control through force."

I nodded. "Which only reinforces the idea that they aren't protectors—they're oppressors."

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Breaking the Façade

The final stage was the most dangerous: an undeniable, public failure. We intercepted a high-priority transmission about a supply convoy heading to one of their underground strongholds. Instead of attacking it ourselves, we leaked the details to a desperate survivor group. They took the bait, launching an assault that led to a full-on battle.

The result was chaos. The UNO responded with overwhelming force, but their brutal suppression of the attackers was recorded and spread. Survivors saw the truth—not benevolent rulers, but merciless enforcers.

And just like that, the cracks in their image became fractures.

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The UNO's Response

It didn't take long for the UNO to react. Their broadcasts shifted, growing more aggressive. Their rhetoric turned from 'guidance' to 'mandates.'

General Chen's next speech was laced with frustration. 'False narratives threaten unity. Those who spread lies will face consequences.'

A warning. A threat.

But it was too late. The damage had been done.

Reports trickled in of survivor groups outright refusing UNO's 'protection.' Some went silent, vanishing before they could be integrated. Others openly rebelled, attacking UNO patrols with makeshift weapons and sheer desperation.

Ray exhaled, watching the fallout unfold. "We just declared war without ever firing a bullet."

I met his gaze. "No, Ray. We just made them fire the first shot."

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Author's Thoughts

War isn't always fought with weapons. In a lawless world, control over perception can be as powerful as an army. James' approach here is one of strategic deception—exposing the truth while mixing in enough misinformation to control the narrative.